THE SAS hero of the Kenya terror siege has been hailed by pals as “the closest thing to Superman we’ve got”. They revealed he had racked up kills in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria. 4 The SAS hero led dozens to safety before leading a charge against the terrorists Credit: Getty - Contributor The trooper, in his 30s, was in the Parachute Regiment before joining the SAS. A source said: “He’s the toughest of the tough with a chest full of medals to back it up. “During a series of war tours he has built up an impressive body count - there are few who would be better trained and prepared for what unfolded in Kenya this week. “He’s a supreme fighter and took real pride battling alongside his Kenyan comrades.” Suggestions the SAS trooper was out “running errands” when the attack unfolded were scotched by well-placed insiders last night. A source said: “He was mobilised along with Kenyan RECCE Special Forces commandos - he was not out shopping. “This guy is elite, he’s the closest thing to Superman we’ve got, but he doesn't get changed in a phone booth and he doesn’t keep a glock pistol, heavily modified Canada Colt C8 assault rifle with a silencer and a combat dagger in the boot of his car when he goes shopping - that gear is kept on a secure base.” MOST READ IN WORLD NEWS Exclusive OUT OF THIS WORLD Negative from film said to depict Roswell alien autopsy on sale for £710k BETRAYAL OF TRUST Woman, 22, 'lured off street by paramedic and gang raped in ambulance' Latest FERRY DISASTER More than 150 feared dead after overloaded ferry 'breaks in two' and sinks CLINGING TO LIFE Hotel owner left critical after catching deadly from Aussie mouse plague CRYPTO KILLER Bondage-obsessed Bitcoin trader ‘went crazy’ & strangled lover to death SLIPPERY CHARACTER Massive deadly snake lurks in Aussie back garden... can YOU spot it? The unnamed soldier was photographed storming into Nairobi’s DusitD2 hotel and office complex while it was under attack by terrorists. He was in the country training Special Forces when news of the atrocity broke. Jihadists from Somali-based al-Shabaab killed 21, including Brit Luke Potter. 4 Pals from the hero's 'Who Dares Wins' unit say he has a 'chest full of medals' 4 The tooled-up SAS hero checks plans with local special forces 4 The brave SAS soldier tooled up and joined the shootout at the request of Kenyan security forces Credit: EPA GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL exclusive@the-sun.co.uk<doc-sep>An SAS soldier reportedly helped tackle the terrorists who killed at least 21 people in a luxury Nairobi hotel complex. The revelation comes as the British man who died in the Kenya attack has been named as charity worker Luke Potter. Image: Luke Potter has been named as the British man killed in Nairobi. Pic: Gatsby More than 700 civilians were moved to safety during the 20-hour siege in the upmarket Westlands neighbourhood which ended on Wednesday morning. Hours after police said all the terrorists had been "eliminated", it emerged a "long-serving" SAS member had reportedly helped secure the hotel complex during the attack. He is said to have been in the country training and mentoring Kenyan Special Forces when the assault broke out. Advertisement The unnamed soldier can reportedly be seen in photos wearing a balaclava as he helps civilians to flee the hotel and office complex. Image: Security forces helped free civilians in the hotel in Nairobi He is said to have joined the rescue effort after a request from Kenya's security services. An unnamed insider has claimed the SAS soldier fired shots during the siege that started on Tuesday, and that US Navy Seals also helped with the mission. The identity of the British national who died was confirmed by the international development charity Gatsby that he worked for. The organisation said in a statement: "Luke was respected by all he worked with, bringing huge drive, determination, a relentless work ethic, and a thirst for new ideas to every project. Image: A CCTV image has emerged showing one of the terrorists inside the complex "He brought a calm head and his unique sense of humour to every situation. He was deeply committed to his work, to his teams, to Gatsby and to development in Africa. He was our colleague and our friend. "We share the grief of his family, partner, daughter and friends. "Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with them. We are now focused on offering all the support we can to them and to our staff." A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are supporting the family of a British man killed in the recent terrorist attack in Kenya. "We are also supporting a British person who was wounded during the attack and is receiving medical attention. "We stand ready to help any other British people affected." Image: Kenyan security officers took cover behind a moving vehicle as they searched for attackers The British man who was wounded is also yet to have been identified. Kenya's president has said the Islamist terrorists who carried out the assault have all been "eliminated". Uhuru Kenyatta said the security operation is now over after the siege left innocent people dead. He added that most of the victims were Kenyans. Police sources and a mortuary official had previously reported 15 were killed in the attack - but the number of dead was later revised up to 21. The Kenyan Red Cross has said 50 people who were in the hotel at the time of the attack remain unaccounted for. Really tragic news from Kenya – my thoughts are with the families and friends who have lost loved ones in this attack including one British citizen. UK stands with Kenya at this difficult time. Our team in Nairobi are supporting all Brits affected https://t.co/umyzSDEcMK — Jeremy Hunt (@Jeremy_Hunt) January 16, 2019 San Francisco-based company I-DEV International confirmed that its American co-founder Jason Spindler was killed in the siege. The company said in an email that nine other employees in its Nairobi office were safely evacuated. London-based foreign aid contractor Adam Smith International said two of its Somali-Kenyan employees were killed. Image: American businessman Jason Spindler was killed in the attack. Pic: I-DEV International Abdalla Dahir and Feisal Ahmed were on the terrace of a restaurant in the complex where the company has offices. Some 50 staff and consultants were safely evacuated. Mr Kenyatta said hundreds of civilians were led to safety after the attack on the DusitD2 hotel and office complex, which includes bars, restaurants, offices and banks. He did not clarify if people were still hiding on the site. Ronald Ng'eno wrote "please tell my family I love them" on Twitter in what he thought was his final goodbye. The 38-year-old was rescued after 11 hours hiding in the office where he works as a communications officer. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player President: 'Kenyans are grieving' Reuben Kimani, a barista working at the hotel, said he recognised at least one of the attackers, having served him coffee in the run-up to the assault. He said: "I knew one of them because he had a big scar on one of his hands. "I saw them. "They shot six of my friends, four didn't die but two succumbed." He said the attackers shouted "why are you killing our brothers and sisters in Somalia?" before opening fire. Mr Kimani was rescued after several hours trapped inside the hotel. President Kenyatta, who urged Kenyans to "go back to work without fear", said in a televised address to the nation on Wednesday: "I can confirm that... the security operation at the Dusit complex is over and all the terrorists eliminated." Image: A heavily-armed policeman patrols outside the hotel complex He added: "As of this moment, we have confirmation that 14 innocent lives were lost to the... terrorists, with others injured." Mr Kenyatta said authorities will "pursue relentlessly" those allegedly involved in the funding, planning and execution of the attack on the hotel complex. He added that "multiple security efforts are underway to detect, deter, disrupt and defeat any terrorist operative or group". Mr Kenyatta added: "From the means available to the security services and judicial arms, we will continue taking every step to make our nation inhospitable to terrorist groups and their networks." The Kenyan leader has not confirmed how many attackers were involved in the co-ordinated terror operation. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Armed extremists captured on CCTV Al-Shabaab - the Somalia-based Islamist extremist group that is allied to al Qaeda - claimed responsibility for the deadly attack. CCTV footage broadcast on local media showed four black-clad, heavily-armed men entering the complex on Tuesday afternoon. At least one of them blew himself up at the start of the attack. Authorities sent special forces into the hotel to flush out the gunmen, who local reports said were on the seventh floor of the Grosvenor Hotel. Image: More than 700 civilians were led to safety in the rescue operation Video footage from inside the building showed Kenyan security officers searching the premises. Workers could be seen emerging from hiding places while gunfire could still be heard. A senior police officer said two attackers had been shot dead on Wednesday morning after a prolonged shootout. He added: "The two have red bandanas tied around their forehead and bullets strapped around their chest with several magazines each. "Each had an AK47 which has been secured." Sporadic gunfire could be heard from the scene hours before Mr Kenyatta spoke on Wednesday, after scores of people were rescued at daybreak during what police called a "mopping-up" exercise. Kenyan hospitals appealed for blood donations as casualties were being treated. The country's authorities have not released a figure for the number injured in the attack. The medical director of M.P. Shah Hospital in Nairobi said most of the casualties it has received had gunshot wounds. Image: People were led away from the complex by members of the security forces Dr Vishal Patel said they received seven people and two of them died. The others needed emergency surgery. A fresh blast has been heard in the Nairobi complex 24 hours after the extremists first entered. Witnesses said security services are conducting a sweep for explosives and emergency responded seemed unperturbed. A group of Muslim leaders in Kenya's capital has condemned Islamist terror attack, calling it "immoral and inconsistent with any human values." Image: Local reports said the attackers were on the seventh floor of the building The leaders urged Kenyans to "shun the desperate attempts by some misguided elements to divide the country along religious and ethnic lines".<doc-sep>A member of the SAS helped secure a luxury hotel complex in Nairobi after 14 people, including a Briton, were killed in a militant attack. Another Briton was wounded as gunmen stormed the dusitD2 complex in the Westlands district of the Kenyan capital on Tuesday afternoon, setting off explosions and shooting people. The SAS soldier helps a woman to safety. Photograph: Njeri Mwangi/Reuters Announcing the end of the operation to secure the area on Wednesday, the Kenyan president, Uhuru Kenyatta, said: “All the terrorists have been eliminated.” It is understood a member of the SAS was involved in the mission, although the MoD said it did not comment on special forces. The solider searches a man at the scene of the attack. Photograph: Baz Ratner/Reuters Images showed a heavily armed man with a military vest and balaclava working with local forces and helping victims leave the complex. The Sun reported that the lone SAS member was involved in the operation, along with US Navy seals, having been in the country to train Kenyan special forces.<doc-sep>
A British SAS trooper piled into the Kenya terror siege – killing militants and saving lives, it was confirmed today. The “long-serving” member of the SAS – motto Who Dares Wins – was on a mission to train and mentor Kenyan Special Forces when four terrorists attacked a hotel complex. After one detonated a suicide belt the remaining three went on a rampage, leaving 14 dead, including one American. CLICK HERE FOR MORE PICTURES FROM THE SUN Amid the carnage – orchestrated by terror group al-Shabab – a lone SAS soldier got tooled up and went in after a request for help from Kenyan security forces, sources said. Incredible images showed the operator in jeans, sneakers and body armor storming through doors and aiding injured, his face covered by a balaclava. AMERICAN AMONG SEVERAL DEAD IN KENYA HOTEL TERROR ATTACK He was pictured operating at the hotel alone. But he was joined in the mission by US Navy Seals, sources said. An insider told The Sun: "UK Special Forces always run towards the sound of gunfire. He was there training and mentoring Kenyan forces when the shout went up, so they went in. AL QAEDA-LINKED TERROR GROUP GAINS GROUND IN SYRIA "During the operation he fired off some rounds – it’s a safe bet he hit his target – the SAS don’t miss. CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP "He is a long-serving member of the Regiment, there is no doubt his actions saved lives." This story originally appeared in The Sun. For more from The Sun, click here.