the hotel. here's abc's james long maun with the latest. >> reporter: panic gripping kenya's capital nairobi as explosions and gunfire ring out. terror strikes. 3:00 p.m., near the upscale dusit hotel, an explosion outside a bank hits three cars, while a suicide bomb goes off inside the hotel lobby. surveillance video shows four gunmen entering the hotel, scveing fire, sending guests toin amre g escape through windows, crouching in the dirt. anti-terror squads rushing inside, where they go from room to room, flushing out the attackers. the operation takingours. pl today, you will not die. you're not dying today. >> reporter: al qaeda-linked terror group al shabab claiming responsibility. there's no official death toll in today's attack. witnesses say at least five dead, and an american among those killed. the government did say the site was secured, but more gunshots were heard. and tonight, families reporting loved ones still inside, hiding