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Kenyan church attack leaves four worshippers dead and 17 injured Kenyan church attack leaves four worshippers dead and 17 injured
(35 minutes later)
At least four people were killed when two gunmen burst into a crowded church and opened fired on worshippers near the Kenyan port of Mombasa.At least four people were killed when two gunmen burst into a crowded church and opened fired on worshippers near the Kenyan port of Mombasa.
The attack, which left about 17 wounded, came despite boosted security in major Kenyan cities amid heightened warnings of extremist violence. The attack, which left about 17 wounded, came despite increased security in Kenyan cities amid heightened warnings of extremist violence.
Two people were killed instantly, while two later died of their injuries, the Red Cross said. Two people were killed instantly, and two later died of their injuries, the Red Cross said. Robert Mureithi, a local police chief, said: "They were shot by gunmen who shot indiscriminately at worshippers and then fled.".
"They were shot by gunmen who shot indiscriminately at worshippers and then fled," said local police chief Robert Mureithi, from Likoni, just south of Mombasa. There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but Kenya has been hit by a series of attacks since sending troops into southern Somalia in October 2011 to battle al-Qaida-linked al-Shabaab insurgents.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but Kenya has been hit by a series of attacks since sending troops into southern Somalia in October 2011 to battle the al-Qaida-linked Shebab insurgents. Kenyan troops, which have since joined the African Union force in Somalia, are taking part in a fresh offensive launched this month against al-Shabaab bases.
Kenyan troops, which have since joined the African Union force in Somalia, are taking part in a fresh offensive launched this month against Shebab bases. In September al-Shabaab commandos killed at least 67 people in Nairobi's Westgate mall.
The attack on the church comes six months after Shebab commandos carried out the September massacre in Nairobi's Westgate mall in which at least 67 people were killed. Last month security chiefs warned of "increased threats of radicalisation" among homegrown Islamists. Last week police arrested two men with a vehicle stashed full of large pipe bombs, which experts said would have been strong enough to bring down a major building.
The latest attack also comes just days after police arrested two men with a vehicle stashed full of large pipe bombs, which experts said would have been strong enough to bring down a major building. The interior minister, Joseph Ole Lenku, said on Saturday that security had been beefed up in Mombasa, as well as in the capital, Nairobi, and other towns. "Our officers are out there, they are doing everything possible to fight crime and terrorism," he said.
Kenya's top security chiefs warned last month of "increased threats of radicalisation" among home-grown Islamists. But tensions are high between the security forces and radical Muslim youths. Last month police raided a mosque accused of encouraging extremism in Mombasa, detaining scores of suspects whom they accused of attending a radicalisation meeting.
Interior minister Joseph Ole Lenku on Saturday said security had been beefed up in Mombasa, as well as in the capital Nairobi and other towns. Several senior Muslim leaders have been shot dead on the coast, with their supporters accusing the police of state-sponsored assassinations – claims the security forces deny. Homegrown groups including the Islamist al-Hijra group, a radical organisation formerly known as the Muslim Youth Center, operate on Kenya's coast and have been linked to al-Shabaab.
"Our officers are out there, they are doing everything possible to fight crime and terrorism," he said in a statement.
But tensions are high between the security forces and radical Muslim youths.
Last month police raided a mosque accused of encouraging extremism in Mombasa, detaining scores of suspects whom they accused of attending a radicalisation meeting.
Several senior Muslim leaders have been gunned down on the coast, with their supporters accusing the police of state-sponsored assassinations – claims the security forces deny.
Homegrown groups including the Islamist Al-Hijra group, a radical organisation formerly known as the Muslim Youth Center, operate on Kenya's coast and have been linked to the Shebab.