"It's happening again." That was the sentiment on social media today as reports emerged that gunshots and explosions had been heard coming from the DusitD2 Hotel compound in Nairobi's upscale Westlands district. The attack began at 3pm local time and witnesses at the scene have described to Reuters images of carnage and destruction. The Somali insurgent group Al Shabab is reported to have, once again, taken responsibility for the attack.

"We are currently conducting an operation in Nairobi," the group's military operations spokesman, Abdiaziz Abu Mus'ab, told Al Jazeera. At the moment it's not clear from police or local media reports whether all people inside have been accounted for or if the attackers have left. The ongoing altercation has, for many in Kenya, brought back memories of 2013's Westgate Mall attacke where 67 people died in a siege also claimed by Somali insurgent group Al Shabab. So far there are few official details of the attack.