US Denies Having Prior Intelligence on Tuesday's Nairobi Terror Attack

We did not have prior knowledge of Tuesday's terror attack in Nairobi, the United States has said.

In a statement sent to newsrooms on Thursday, the US Embassy says that reports claiming that it advised its citizens to avoid going anywhere dusitD2 complex along 14 Riverside Drive before the attack are untrue.

“We deplore the spread of false information in the wake of this tragedy, which only serves to hamper ongoing efforts to defeat terrorism,” reads the statement signed by US Ambassador to Kenya Robert Godec.

“We reiterate our deepest condolences to the families and friends of all those who were killed in this craven attack and wish a quick recovery to those who were injured.  We stand shoulder to shoulder with Kenya.”

The attack, which Somalia-based Islamic terror organization Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for, left 21 people dead and several others injured.

The fatalities include 16 Kenyans, one British citizen, one American national and three persons of African descent whose identities are yet to be established.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is appealing to anyone with information about the attack to contact the police.

In a statement, Al-Shabaab says the attack was in response to United States President Donald Trump’s action to recognize Jerusalem as Israeli's capital.

"The Mujahideen (holy warriors) carried out this operation … (as) a response to the witless remarks of U.S. president, Donald Trump, and his declaration of Al-Quds (Jerusalem) as the capital of Israel" the statement reads as quoted by Reuters.