American was killed in Tuesday's terror attack in Nairobi

5years ago

The American killed in Tuesday's terrorist attack in Nairobi, Kenya, was a loyal son, helping entrepreneurs in developing countries develop their businesses.

Jason Spindler, 40, was part of at least 21 people Kenyan authorities say gunmen stormed an upscale compound in Nairobi's Westlands district, detonating explosives and opening fire on civilians. Al-Shabab, an extremist group linked to al Qaeda based in neighboring Somalia, claimed responsibility.

Spindler was the founder and CEO of I-DEV International, a San Francisco-based investment advisory and strategy firm with an office in the Kenyan capital.

Spindler lived in Nairobi for three years. On Tuesday afternoon, he left his office and headed for the nearby multipurpose complex, which houses a luxury hotel, restaurant, bar and offices. He worked often and had lunch in the garden, as his mother told a local radio station.

Spindler's parents said they could not contact him during the attack.

"Nobody could get a hold of him, so they were searching," Spindler's mother told KTRK in the interview Wednesday.

His friends searched for eight hours and showed his picture to hospitals, police and US embassy agents.

Spindler was killed in the same hotel where his parents stayed when they visited him in August. ''The hotel that was supposed to be the safest area in Nairobi," his father said.