Shortly after the massacre at the Westgate Mall in Kenya, the alleged terrorists, al-Shabab, began tweeting about their motivations from the now-suspended account @HSM_Press.
A handful of accounts, most tweeting in Arabic, cheered on the terrorist unit still inside the mall.
After tweeting a series of names of alleged gunmen still inside the Westgate Mall, a second account, @HSM_Press2, was quickly suspended by Twitter.
The al-Shabab Twitter accounts have been suspended twice already this year: Once when they posted pictures of a French soldier they killed and threatened to murder Kenyan hostages, and earlier this month after threatening Somalia's president.
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Targeted Abuse: You may not engage in targeted abuse or harassment. Some of the factors that we take into account when determining what conduct is considered to be targeted abuse or harassment are:if you are sending messages to a user from multiple accounts;if the sole purpose of your account is to send abusive messages to others;if the reported behavior is one-sided or includes threats
As the hostage situation inside the mall continued, leaders and organizations from Kenya also used the social networking site to communicate new information and volunteer opportunities, and try to keep morale up.
One hostage rescued alive, search & rescue ongoing amid slight drizzles #WestGate ^PO
Kenya Red Cross
@KenyaRedCross
One hostage rescued alive, search & rescue ongoing amid slight drizzles #WestGate ^PO
Rescue operation at the Westgate Mall is still underway. Hostage situations are delicate and must be handled with utmost care and caution
Kenya Defence Forces
@kdfinfo
Rescue operation at the Westgate Mall is still underway. Hostage situations are delicate and must be handled with utmost care and caution
#WestGateShooting more people being escorted out of the mall by @Abbas_Gullet. ^PE
Kenya Red Cross
@KenyaRedCross
#WestGateShooting more people being escorted out of the mall by @Abbas_Gullet. ^PE
This will end tonight. Our forces will prevail. Kenyans are standing firm against aggression, and we will win.
Disaster OpCentre KE
@NDOCKenya
This will end tonight. Our forces will prevail. Kenyans are standing firm against aggression, and we will win.
This is not a religious act of crime, but an act of terrorism, carried out by cowards. We urge all Kenyans to unite and Arise as one. Pls RT
Kenya Police
@PoliceKE
This is not a religious act of crime, but an act of terrorism, carried out by cowards. We urge all Kenyans to unite and Arise as one. Pls RT
David Kimaiyo, the inspector general of Police National Police Service, updated citizens and offered help to those still looking for family members.
My aim is to rescue as many innocent hostages in a professional manner to save them. Be calm. We have contained the gunmen. IG
David Kimaiyo
@IGkimaiyo
My aim is to rescue as many innocent hostages in a professional manner to save them. Be calm. We have contained the gunmen. IG
Those who have their people still in the mall should also inform us the location where they are and their mobile number and names. IG
David Kimaiyo
@IGkimaiyo
Those who have their people still in the mall should also inform us the location where they are and their mobile number and names. IG
Once again I want to assure Kenyans that we are working tirelessly to shame the attackers. IG
David Kimaiyo
@IGkimaiyo
Once again I want to assure Kenyans that we are working tirelessly to shame the attackers. IG
Many of the accounts urged users not to speculate or spread information if it had yet to be confirmed, and not to share any photographs of the victims.
Please avoid speculation on casualties. @IGkimaiyo will issue a statement with a full account of the situation at #Westgate
Disaster OpCentre KE
@NDOCKenya
Please avoid speculation on casualties. @IGkimaiyo will issue a statement with a full account of the situation at #Westgate
We'll inform you on briefings. Kindly avoid picking pedestrian statements. This is a sensitive matter which needs verification.
InteriorCNG Ministry
@InteriorKE
We'll inform you on briefings. Kindly avoid picking pedestrian statements. This is a sensitive matter which needs verification.
I want to urge our media houses to restrain from airing, posting & publishing sensitive images which may cause anguish to relatives. IG
David Kimaiyo
@IGkimaiyo
I want to urge our media houses to restrain from airing, posting & publishing sensitive images which may cause anguish to relatives. IG
Devastated Kenyans turning to Twitter to express their grief embraced the hashtag #WeAreOne.
No Act of Cowardice and Terrorism will ever make me less of a Kenyan. I will fly my #Kenyan Flag higher! #WeAreONE
#XtianDela
@xtiandela
No Act of Cowardice and Terrorism will ever make me less of a Kenyan. I will fly my #Kenyan Flag higher!
#WeAreONE
This lady has been here since morning providing food to the police and journalists at the #WestgateMall. #WeAreOne
Citizen TV Kenya
@citizentvkenya
This lady has been here since morning providing food to the police and journalists at the #WestgateMall. #WeAreOne
RT @jmurikira2: went2give blood 2day.was so touched wen we were told Kenyans had given alot &so dey didnt need anymore #WeAreOne #Pray4kenya
datboi
@tune2mie
RT @jmurikira2: went2give blood 2day.was so touched wen we were told Kenyans had given alot &so dey didnt need anymore #WeAreOne #Pray4kenya
Please join us by lighting a candle for #Kenya today. It is not over, but #WeAreOne. #UmojaNiNguvu (Unity Is Strength) #Westgate
Zawadi Nyong'o
@ZawadiN
Please join us by lighting a candle for #Kenya today. It is not over, but #WeAreOne. #UmojaNiNguvu (Unity Is Strength) #Westgate
Can't remember last when i saw #Kenya,together & United strongly. #Nairobi #WeAreOne , #Westgate shall come out of this. #Kenya #Victorious
ItechJungle
@ItechJungle
Can't remember last when i saw #Kenya,together & United strongly. #Nairobi #WeAreOne , #Westgate shall come out of this. #Kenya #Victorious