CNN reported that the American-linked militants from al-Shabab, the Somali-based militant group with ties to al-Qaeda, were among the militants who carried out the attack on Sunday which killed at least 68 people.

Two of the American citizens are reportedly from Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, and the other is from Kansas City, Missouri.

Minneapolis has a large Somali community with a history of recruitment efforts by al-Shabab as well as al-Qaeda, according to News Max.

The FBI has not confirmed that Americans were involved in the attack but it is investigating the claim.

Sources said that apart from Americans, the attackers also included Canadians, English, Swedish and Finnish citizens.

A senior State Department official told CNN that authorities were looking into the matter to determine whether any of the attackers were from the United States.

The attacks caused two-day hostage crisis at the upscale Westgate Mall which left at least 68 dead and raised concerns over al-Shabaab’s revitalization.

And of course that’s got Rep. Peter King (R – NY) all fired up about ethnic Somalis again, urging the FBI and local police departments across the US to keep a careful eye on “Somali-American communities” for possible follow-up strikes. MRKD/NJF