Most of the hostages being held in the shopping centre siege in Kenya have been freed according to the country’s military.

A spokesperson said troops had now taken control of the majority of the building in central Nairobi but did not say how many people had been rescued, Euronews informs.

There has been no word on what has happened to suspected Islamist militants believed to be numbered between 10 and 15 who had barricaded themselves in a supermarket with an unknown number of captives.

Heavy and sustained gunfire was heard at the mall on Monday morning, suggesting a possible assault by Kenyan security forces, according to international media.

The Somali militant group al-Shabab said it carried out the attack on the upmarket shopping centre in Nairobi in response to Kenyan military operations in Somalia.

Kenya's Red Cross said 68 people had so far been confirmed dead in the attack.

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