For Al-Shabaab , the mall was an attractive target because Westerners frequented it . Also , it fits with the Somalia-based terrorist group 's enmity with Kenya . Al-Qaeda 's new leader , Ayman al-Zawahiri , who had earlier petitioned bin Laden to reconsider his views about the proposed merger between Al-Shabaab and al-Qaeda , believed the time was right to announce formal ties between the two groups . The group has recruited around 40 American men and also dozens from Europe . In a statement released on its website, al-Shabab said that "the attack in Nairobi is part of their ongoing campaign to destabilize our country by targeting innocent civilians."
For Al-Shabaab , the mall was an attractive target because Westerners frequented it . Also , it fits with the Somalia-based terrorist group 's enmity with Kenya . The group has recruited around 40 American men and also dozens from Europe . In a statement released on its website, al-Shabab said that "the attack in Nairobi is part of their ongoing campaign to destabilize our country by targeting innocent civilians."