An SAS soldier reportedly helped tackle the terrorists who killed at least 21 people in a luxury Nairobi hotel complex.

The revelation comes as the British man who died in the Kenya attack has been named as charity worker Luke Potter.

Image: Luke Potter has been named as the British man killed in Nairobi. Pic: Gatsby

More than 700 civilians were moved to safety during the 20-hour siege in the upmarket Westlands neighbourhood which ended on Wednesday morning.

Hours after police said all the terrorists had been "eliminated", it emerged a "long-serving" SAS member had reportedly helped secure the hotel complex during the attack.

He is said to have been in the country training and mentoring Kenyan Special Forces when the assault broke out.


The unnamed soldier can reportedly be seen in photos wearing a balaclava as he helps civilians to flee the hotel and office complex.

Image: Security forces helped free civilians in the hotel in Nairobi

He is said to have joined the rescue effort after a request from Kenya's security services.

An unnamed insider has claimed the SAS soldier fired shots during the siege that started on Tuesday, and that US Navy Seals also helped with the mission.

The identity of the British national who died was confirmed by the international development charity Gatsby that he worked for.

The organisation said in a statement: "Luke was respected by all he worked with, bringing huge drive, determination, a relentless work ethic, and a thirst for new ideas to every project.

Image: A CCTV image has emerged showing one of the terrorists inside the complex

"He brought a calm head and his unique sense of humour to every situation. He was deeply committed to his work, to his teams, to Gatsby and to development in Africa. He was our colleague and our friend.

"We share the grief of his family, partner, daughter and friends.

"Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with them. We are now focused on offering all the support we can to them and to our staff."

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are supporting the family of a British man killed in the recent terrorist attack in Kenya.

"We are also supporting a British person who was wounded during the attack and is receiving medical attention.

"We stand ready to help any other British people affected."

Image: Kenyan security officers took cover behind a moving vehicle as they searched for attackers

The British man who was wounded is also yet to have been identified.

Kenya's president has said the Islamist terrorists who carried out the assault have all been "eliminated".

Uhuru Kenyatta said the security operation is now over after the siege left innocent people dead.

He added that most of the victims were Kenyans.

Police sources and a mortuary official had previously reported 15 were killed in the attack - but the number of dead was later revised up to 21.

The Kenyan Red Cross has said 50 people who were in the hotel at the time of the attack remain unaccounted for.

Really tragic news from Kenya – my thoughts are with the families and friends who have lost loved ones in this attack including one British citizen. UK stands with Kenya at this difficult time. Our team in Nairobi are supporting all Brits affected https://t.co/umyzSDEcMK — Jeremy Hunt (@Jeremy_Hunt) January 16, 2019

San Francisco-based company I-DEV International confirmed that its American co-founder Jason Spindler was killed in the siege.

The company said in an email that nine other employees in its Nairobi office were safely evacuated.

London-based foreign aid contractor Adam Smith International said two of its Somali-Kenyan employees were killed.

Image: American businessman Jason Spindler was killed in the attack. Pic: I-DEV International

Abdalla Dahir and Feisal Ahmed were on the terrace of a restaurant in the complex where the company has offices.

Some 50 staff and consultants were safely evacuated.

Mr Kenyatta said hundreds of civilians were led to safety after the attack on the DusitD2 hotel and office complex, which includes bars, restaurants, offices and banks.

He did not clarify if people were still hiding on the site.

Ronald Ng'eno wrote "please tell my family I love them" on Twitter in what he thought was his final goodbye.

The 38-year-old was rescued after 11 hours hiding in the office where he works as a communications officer.

President: 'Kenyans are grieving'

Reuben Kimani, a barista working at the hotel, said he recognised at least one of the attackers, having served him coffee in the run-up to the assault.

He said: "I knew one of them because he had a big scar on one of his hands.

"I saw them.

"They shot six of my friends, four didn't die but two succumbed."

He said the attackers shouted "why are you killing our brothers and sisters in Somalia?" before opening fire.

Mr Kimani was rescued after several hours trapped inside the hotel.

President Kenyatta, who urged Kenyans to "go back to work without fear", said in a televised address to the nation on Wednesday: "I can confirm that... the security operation at the Dusit complex is over and all the terrorists eliminated."

Image: A heavily-armed policeman patrols outside the hotel complex

He added: "As of this moment, we have confirmation that 14 innocent lives were lost to the... terrorists, with others injured."

Mr Kenyatta said authorities will "pursue relentlessly" those allegedly involved in the funding, planning and execution of the attack on the hotel complex.

He added that "multiple security efforts are underway to detect, deter, disrupt and defeat any terrorist operative or group".

Mr Kenyatta added: "From the means available to the security services and judicial arms, we will continue taking every step to make our nation inhospitable to terrorist groups and their networks."

The Kenyan leader has not confirmed how many attackers were involved in the co-ordinated terror operation.

Armed extremists captured on CCTV

Al-Shabaab - the Somalia-based Islamist extremist group that is allied to al Qaeda - claimed responsibility for the deadly attack.

CCTV footage broadcast on local media showed four black-clad, heavily-armed men entering the complex on Tuesday afternoon.

At least one of them blew himself up at the start of the attack.

Authorities sent special forces into the hotel to flush out the gunmen, who local reports said were on the seventh floor of the Grosvenor Hotel.

Image: More than 700 civilians were led to safety in the rescue operation

Video footage from inside the building showed Kenyan security officers searching the premises.

Workers could be seen emerging from hiding places while gunfire could still be heard.

A senior police officer said two attackers had been shot dead on Wednesday morning after a prolonged shootout.

He added: "The two have red bandanas tied around their forehead and bullets strapped around their chest with several magazines each.

"Each had an AK47 which has been secured."

Sporadic gunfire could be heard from the scene hours before Mr Kenyatta spoke on Wednesday, after scores of people were rescued at daybreak during what police called a "mopping-up" exercise.

Kenyan hospitals appealed for blood donations as casualties were being treated.

The country's authorities have not released a figure for the number injured in the attack.

The medical director of M.P. Shah Hospital in Nairobi said most of the casualties it has received had gunshot wounds.

Image: People were led away from the complex by members of the security forces

Dr Vishal Patel said they received seven people and two of them died.

The others needed emergency surgery.

A fresh blast has been heard in the Nairobi complex 24 hours after the extremists first entered.

Witnesses said security services are conducting a sweep for explosives and emergency responded seemed unperturbed.

A group of Muslim leaders in Kenya's capital has condemned Islamist terror attack, calling it "immoral and inconsistent with any human values."

Image: Local reports said the attackers were on the seventh floor of the building

The leaders urged Kenyans to "shun the desperate attempts by some misguided elements to divide the country along religious and ethnic lines".

Al-Shabaab carried out the 2013 attack at the nearby Westgate Mall in Nairobi that left 67 people dead.

Like the attack at the shopping centre, this one appeared aimed at wealthy Kenyans and foreigners.

It came a day after a magistrate ruled that three men must stand trial in connection with the Westgate Mall siege.

Image: Footage emerged of armed police inside the hotel in Nairobi

Al Shabaab has vowed retribution against Kenya for sending troops to Somalia to fight it since 2011.

Tuesday's violence came three years to the day after al Shabaab extremists attacked a Kenyan military base in Somalia, killing scores of people.

The group has killed hundreds of people in Kenya.

Al Shabaab claimed responsibility for an assault on Kenya's Garissa University in 2015 that killed 147 people, mostly students.

The latest carnage demonstrated al Shabaab's continued ability to carry out spectacular acts of bloodshed despite a dramatic increase in US air strikes against it under President Donald Trump.