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Al-Shabab in deadly attack in Kenya's Mandera town Al-Shabab 'kills Christians' in Kenya's Mandera town
(about 2 hours later)
Militant Islamist group al-Shabab says it was behind the attack which killed at least six people and wounded one in north-eastern Kenya. Militant Islamist group al-Shabab says it has killed six Christians in north-eastern Kenya in an attack aimed at forcing them out of the region.
The militants threw a grenade before opening fire in a residential area in Mandera town, police said. The six were killed in a grenade and gun attack on a residential block in Mandera town, police said.
Mandera County governor Ali Roba confirmed the casualties, adding that security guards had saved 27 people. It was the latest in a spate of deadly attacks targeting Christians in the mainly Muslim region.
Al-Shabab is headquartered in Somalia, and has carried out a string of attacks in neighbouring Kenya. In December 2014, al-Shabab killed 38 non-Muslims at a quarry after separating them from Muslim workers.
"We have suffered another sad attack," Mr Roba said in a tweet. A few months earlier, 28 people were killed after Muslim passengers were split up from the other passengers.
The raid took place in the early hours of Thursday in an area popular with people who came from outside Mandera town, reports the BBC's Ferdinand Omondi from Kenya. When al-Shabab killed 148 people in an attack on Kenya's north-eastern Garissa University College in April 2015, the militants reportedly singled out Christians and shot them, while freeing many Muslims.
"From the nature and style of the attack, it will obviously be al-Shabab," Mr Roba told Reuters news agency. The latest raid took place in the early hours of Thursday in an area popular with people who came from outside Mandera town, reports the BBC's Ferdinand Omondi from Kenya.
"If not for the quick response by our security forces, we would be talking of many more casualties now." The attack happened as "planned" and was aimed at Christians in Mandera town, a radio station run by al-Shabab has reported.
Al-Shabab has been at war with Kenya ever since Kenyan forces entered Somalia in October 2011 in an effort to crush the al Qaeda-linked militants. The group wanted non-Muslims to leave what it regarded as Muslim areas, a spokesman told the BBC.
Mandera County Governor Ali Roba confirmed that six people had been killed and one seriously wounded in the raid on a public works site in the town.
Security forces responded quickly, managing to save 27 other people, he added in a tweet.
Mr Roba did not disclose the religious affiliation of those targeted.
"We grieve with our families... Sadly, six lives are too many to loose," he said.
Al-Shabab is headquartered in Somalia and is affiliated to al-Qaeda.
The militants have been at war with Kenya ever since Kenyan forces entered Somalia in October 2011 in an effort to crush them.
Kenyan troops are now part of the African Union mission in Somalia fighting the group.Kenyan troops are now part of the African Union mission in Somalia fighting the group.