Gunfire and blasts rocked the compound in Westlands district of Kenya's capital city Nairobi where DusitD2 hotel and several offices are located.

Some media reports claimed that the deceased include a US citizen.

Despite the government saying all the buildings were secured by Tuesday evening, fresh gunfire has since been heard, reported BBC.

The Somalia-based militant group al-Shabab has claimed responsibility for the attack.

"BREAKING: #Shabaab claims responsibility for horrific attack at DusitD2 hotel in #Nairobi #Kenya, wherefrom explosions and gunfire were heard today and “body parts and blood on the ground," SITE intelligence group posted on its website.

United States Ambassador to Kenya Robert Godec condemned the attack and tweeted: "The United States condemns in the strongest terms the terrible attack at the Dusit2 Hotel complex in Nairobi. We offer our deepest condolences to all who have been affected by this horrifying violence."

The attack began at around 3 pm local time and several video footages have emerged on the social media where security forces could be seen pulling out people from the complex.

DusitD2 hotel is a five-star hotel. It has 101 rooms.

Kenya has witnessed several terrorist attacks in recent times.

Who are al -Shabaab?

Al-Shabaab is a jihadist fundamentalist group based in East Africa.

In 2012, it pledged allegiance to the militant Islamist organization Al-Qaeda. They are opposed to the Somali government. However, they have carried out attacks throughout East Africa.

Major Attacks:

In 2013, al-Shabab gunmen attacked the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi and targeted shoppers and at the end of the 80-hour-long siege 67 people lost their lives.

In 2015, gunmen stormed the Garissa University College in Garissa, Kenya, killing 148 people. The militant group and Al-Qaeda offshoot, Al-Shabaab, which the gunmen claimed to be from, took responsibility for the attack.

Image: Rita Katz Twitter page