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Deadly Kenya grenade attack hits children in church | Deadly Kenya grenade attack hits children in church |
(about 1 hour later) | |
One child has been killed and six critically hurt, the Red Cross says, in a grenade attack on a church's Sunday school in the Kenya capital, Nairobi. | |
The attacker targeted St Polycarp's church on Juja Road. | The attacker targeted St Polycarp's church on Juja Road. |
A police spokesman said they suspected sympathisers of Somalia's al-Shabab Islamist militants were to blame. | A police spokesman said they suspected sympathisers of Somalia's al-Shabab Islamist militants were to blame. |
Kenyan troops are at present part of an African Union force that has forced al-Shabab from its last Somali urban stronghold of Kismayo. | Kenyan troops are at present part of an African Union force that has forced al-Shabab from its last Somali urban stronghold of Kismayo. |
The Daily Nation quoted local police as saying that a number of those hurt at the church were injured in a stampede after the attack. | |
The police spokesman, Charles Owino, told Reuters news agency: "We suspect this blast might have been carried out by sympathisers of al-Shabab. | |
The fact that Sunday's bombing has immediately been blamed on "Al-Shabab sympathisers" is hardly surprising, given events in Somalia in recent days. | The fact that Sunday's bombing has immediately been blamed on "Al-Shabab sympathisers" is hardly surprising, given events in Somalia in recent days. |
The hand-grenade, thrown into a crowded public place, is becoming a grimly familiar tactic in Kenya. In the past six months, it has been used in bars in Mombasa, churches in Garissa near the Somali border, as well as churches and a bus station in Nairobi. | The hand-grenade, thrown into a crowded public place, is becoming a grimly familiar tactic in Kenya. In the past six months, it has been used in bars in Mombasa, churches in Garissa near the Somali border, as well as churches and a bus station in Nairobi. |
All of these attacks have initially been blamed on al-Shabab. But in at least some cases, subsequent reporting has suggested turf-wars between local gangs. | All of these attacks have initially been blamed on al-Shabab. But in at least some cases, subsequent reporting has suggested turf-wars between local gangs. |
As Kenyan troops push al-Shabab out of its last Somali urban stronghold, Kismayo, there is nervousness about the possibility of a retaliation on Kenyan soil. | As Kenyan troops push al-Shabab out of its last Somali urban stronghold, Kismayo, there is nervousness about the possibility of a retaliation on Kenyan soil. |
Many remember the bombings in Kampala in 2010, which killed 74 people, after Ugandan troops entered Somalia. Whatever the motive of Sunday's bombing, it is not on a comparable scale. | Many remember the bombings in Kampala in 2010, which killed 74 people, after Ugandan troops entered Somalia. Whatever the motive of Sunday's bombing, it is not on a comparable scale. |
"These are the kicks of a dying horse since, of late, Kenyan police have arrested several suspects in connection with grenades." | "These are the kicks of a dying horse since, of late, Kenyan police have arrested several suspects in connection with grenades." |
Irene Wambui, who was in the church at the time of the attack, said: "We were just worshipping God in church when suddenly we heard an explosion and people started running for their lives. | Irene Wambui, who was in the church at the time of the attack, said: "We were just worshipping God in church when suddenly we heard an explosion and people started running for their lives. |
"We came to realise that the explosion had injured some kids who were taken to hospital and unfortunately one succumbed." | "We came to realise that the explosion had injured some kids who were taken to hospital and unfortunately one succumbed." |
Nairobi police chief Moses Ombati has appealed for calm after youths reportedly attacked the nearby Alamin mosque. | Nairobi police chief Moses Ombati has appealed for calm after youths reportedly attacked the nearby Alamin mosque. |
'Another Nigeria' | 'Another Nigeria' |
Nairobi and the port city of Mombasa have suffered a series of grenade attacks since Kenya sent troops into Somalia last October. | Nairobi and the port city of Mombasa have suffered a series of grenade attacks since Kenya sent troops into Somalia last October. |
The attacks in Mombasa escalated after radical Islamist preacher Aboud Rogo Mohammed was killed in a drive-by shooting in August. | The attacks in Mombasa escalated after radical Islamist preacher Aboud Rogo Mohammed was killed in a drive-by shooting in August. |
In July, 15 people were killed in raids on churches in Garissa, near Kenya's border with Somalia. | In July, 15 people were killed in raids on churches in Garissa, near Kenya's border with Somalia. |
There was speculation that al-Shabab or its sympathisers were responsible. | There was speculation that al-Shabab or its sympathisers were responsible. |
Those attacks prompted the country's Inter-Religious Council chairman to urge a united front against sectarian division. | Those attacks prompted the country's Inter-Religious Council chairman to urge a united front against sectarian division. |
Adan Wachu told the BBC Network Africa programme at the time: "There are people out there who are determined to make Kenya another Nigeria. | Adan Wachu told the BBC Network Africa programme at the time: "There are people out there who are determined to make Kenya another Nigeria. |
"It's not going to be allowed to have a sectarian division in this country - whoever wants to do that will of course fail." | "It's not going to be allowed to have a sectarian division in this country - whoever wants to do that will of course fail." |
Attacks on churches in Nigeria have been frequent this year. | Attacks on churches in Nigeria have been frequent this year. |
Many of them have been blamed on the Boko Haram group, which wants to establish Islamic law in a country where the north is largely Muslim and the south mainly Christian and animist. | Many of them have been blamed on the Boko Haram group, which wants to establish Islamic law in a country where the north is largely Muslim and the south mainly Christian and animist. |