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Obama calls Kenyan mall attack a ‘terrible outrage’

President Barack Obama says the United States stands with Kenya against the “terrible outrage” of a shopping mall terrorist attack.

A woman who had been held hostage reacts following a security operation at an upmarket shopping mall in Nairobi.Getty Images

Obama says the United States is providing law enforcement assistance and all the help it can to deal with the tragedy.

At least 62 people have been killed by members of the Somali terrorist group al-Shabab. The attackers say the strike was retribution for Kenyan forces’ 2011 push into neighboring Somalia.

Obama was making his first public remarks on the attack while meeting with Nigeria’s president on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly Monday. Obama had called Kenya’s president over the weekend to offer condolences and support.

Obama said the attack shows the international community must stand against the “senseless violence” he said groups like al-Shabab represent.