Massacre at the Mall: Inside the 49-hour siege that trapped Australian shoppers, tonight on Inside Story at 8.30pm

It was a busy morning at Nairobi’s exclusive Westgate Mall, and when shoppers heard more loud noises, many thought nothing of it. It marked the start of two-day siege trapping a group of Australians, who tell of their terrifying experience to Nine’s Inside Story.

“Originally we sort of heard a bit of a booming sound, which sounded a lot like scaffolding falling over,” said Australian man Nick Laurie.

Inside Story will air at 8.30pm tonight on Nine

But the shoppers soon realised they were under attack.

“Then a few more sounds started happening … it was quite clear they were shots,” Mr Laurie recalled.

“Everyone suddenly realised it wasn’t something curious that was happening, something bad was happening.”

For hundreds of people, including several Australians, it was the beginning of a terrifying ordeal that would end in utter tragedy.

“It was grenades going off, then the screams, then the bullets,” survivor Sarah Williamson said.

The attack was launched by Muslim extremists from the notorious Somalian terrorist group Al-Shebaab.

It was well planned, and executed with ruthless efficiency.

No-one was safe from the indiscriminate slaughter, not even children.

When it was over 49 hours later, 71 people were dead, including one Australian.