Caerphilly Observer
Member Sign in Manage Membership
Become a Member - no ads
Menu
  • News
    • Senedd
    • Business
    • Newport
    • Opinion
  • Sport
    • Rugby union
    • Football
  • Membership & Subscriptions
  • Notices
  • Obituaries
  • About
    • Advertise
  • Sponsored Content
Menu

Pontllanfraith woman tells of horror during Kenya terror attack

News | Richard Gurner | Published: 14:52, Wednesday September 25th, 2013.

Lynsey Khatau from Pontllanfraith was a survivor of the Kenyan shopping mall siege
Lynsey Khatau from Pontllanfraith was a survivor of the Kenyan shopping mall siege. Picture: BBC

A Pontllanfraith woman has spoken of the terror she faced in the Kenyan shopping centre attack.

On Saturday, Al-Shabab militants stormed the shopping in the country’s capital Nairobi.

Lynsey Khatau, 23, who splits her time between Kenya and Pontllanfraith was with her husband and four-year-old son Caiz in the Westgate mall when she was shot at by the militants.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has said 72 people died in the attack including six security personnel and five militants. Among the dead are six British nationals.

Speaking to BBC Wales Mrs Khatau said: “When they shot at me, my son saw a man get shot instead of me, so I was lucky not to get shot.

“My son is completely traumatised, he cannot sleep and even if he does sleep he wakes up crying ‘they’re shooting at my daddy’ so it’s very difficult at the moment.

Mrs Khatau also described the moment a bullet missed her and hit a man standing behind her.

She said: “The only thing I was thinking is ‘we’re going to die’. There were people just falling everywhere.”

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Latest News

  • Kyran Jones extends unbeaten record with win over GouldingSunday, April 5, 2026
  • WATCH: Lauren Price’s post-fight press conference after Piñeiro Aquino winSunday, April 5, 2026
  • Price remains world champion after victory over Piñeiro Aquino in CardiffSunday, April 5, 2026
  • All 60 Senedd Members have signed Vikki Howells' letter
    Senedd Members remember Hefin David and call for change in suicide reportingThursday, April 2, 2026
  • 36 Penallta Road, Ystrad Mynach, pictured in June 2025
    HMO plans turned down over flood riskThursday, April 2, 2026
  • The fire engine being donated to Kharkiv Airport in eastern Ukraine
    Fire engines from south Wales donated to war-torn UkraineThursday, April 2, 2026

Find out how the communities of Caerphilly County Borough get their names

Caerphilly

Legal & Public Notices

  • Planning notice for land south of Valley View, Cefn HengoedThursday, April 2, 2026
  • Caerphilly County Borough Council public noticesThursday, April 2, 2026
  • Notice of application for a variation of a premises licence: Ffos CaerffiliMonday, March 30, 2026
  • Notice of application for a premises licence: Machen Cricket ClubMonday, March 30, 2026
© 2009-2026 Caerphilly Media Ltd, Caerphilly Miners Centre for the Community Watford Road Caerphilly, CF83 1BJ. Incorporated in Wales No. 07604006.