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| Coast Town Is Attacked in Kenya; Dozens Die | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| NAIROBI, Kenya — At least 48 people were killed when dozens of militants attacked a Kenyan coastal town overnight, targeting a police station and two hotels, officials said Monday. | NAIROBI, Kenya — At least 48 people were killed when dozens of militants attacked a Kenyan coastal town overnight, targeting a police station and two hotels, officials said Monday. |
| The government blamed a Somali extremist group, the Shabab, for the latest in a series of deadly assaults on civilians and foreigners in Kenya. On their Twitter account, the Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack “as a retaliation for Muslim clerics killed in Mombasa,” a port city on the Indian Ocean. | The government blamed a Somali extremist group, the Shabab, for the latest in a series of deadly assaults on civilians and foreigners in Kenya. On their Twitter account, the Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack “as a retaliation for Muslim clerics killed in Mombasa,” a port city on the Indian Ocean. |
| “Kenya is now officially a war zone,” the Shabab said in a statement, “and as such any tourists visiting the country do so at their own peril.” | “Kenya is now officially a war zone,” the Shabab said in a statement, “and as such any tourists visiting the country do so at their own peril.” |
| The violence began Sunday evening as residents of Mpeketoni, a town near the tourist resort of Lamu Island, were watching World Cup soccer matches on television, officials said. Residents had been watching a match at the Breeze View Hotel when the attackers took aside some of the men and gunned them down in front of the women. | The violence began Sunday evening as residents of Mpeketoni, a town near the tourist resort of Lamu Island, were watching World Cup soccer matches on television, officials said. Residents had been watching a match at the Breeze View Hotel when the attackers took aside some of the men and gunned them down in front of the women. |
| The authorities said that gunmen emerged from two minibuses before starting the assault, in which at least one police officer was killed. Some panicked residents ran for cover in nearby bushes as the shooting began, the police said. | The authorities said that gunmen emerged from two minibuses before starting the assault, in which at least one police officer was killed. Some panicked residents ran for cover in nearby bushes as the shooting began, the police said. |
| Joseph Ole Lenku, Kenya’s cabinet secretary for the interior, said at a news conference that “the perpetrators of this heinous act will be pursued to the full force of the law.” | Joseph Ole Lenku, Kenya’s cabinet secretary for the interior, said at a news conference that “the perpetrators of this heinous act will be pursued to the full force of the law.” |
| The Kenyan military pushed into Somalia in 2011 in an effort to drive the Shabab back, but since then, attacks inside Kenya have only increased. The latest killings are sure to intensify the debate already brewing in Kenya about what to do with the several thousand Kenyan troops inside Somalia. | The Kenyan military pushed into Somalia in 2011 in an effort to drive the Shabab back, but since then, attacks inside Kenya have only increased. The latest killings are sure to intensify the debate already brewing in Kenya about what to do with the several thousand Kenyan troops inside Somalia. |
| Kenya’s border with Somalia is porous, essentially a line in the desert, and though Western officials have been urging the Kenyan security services to watch it more closely, militants seem able to come and go at will, often with disastrous consequences. | Kenya’s border with Somalia is porous, essentially a line in the desert, and though Western officials have been urging the Kenyan security services to watch it more closely, militants seem able to come and go at will, often with disastrous consequences. |
| In September, four gunmen from the group targeted an upscale mall in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, killing at least 67 people. In May, twin explosions hit a market area in central Nairobi, killing 10 people and injuring 76 others. | In September, four gunmen from the group targeted an upscale mall in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, killing at least 67 people. In May, twin explosions hit a market area in central Nairobi, killing 10 people and injuring 76 others. |
| In response, the Kenyan authorities have sought to beef up security, interrogating thousands of immigrants, refugees and members of Kenya’s large Somali community. But the violence has continued, and the government’s tactics have been criticized by rights groups. | In response, the Kenyan authorities have sought to beef up security, interrogating thousands of immigrants, refugees and members of Kenya’s large Somali community. But the violence has continued, and the government’s tactics have been criticized by rights groups. |
| Earlier this month, the United States Embassy in Nairobi warned American citizens to exercise caution when attending public events that may attract large crowds during the World Cup. It warned that places that could be targeted by terrorists include hotels, restaurants, shopping malls and public transportation. Britain, Canada and Australia have also recently issued warnings and called for added vigilance in the face of potential terrorist attacks. | Earlier this month, the United States Embassy in Nairobi warned American citizens to exercise caution when attending public events that may attract large crowds during the World Cup. It warned that places that could be targeted by terrorists include hotels, restaurants, shopping malls and public transportation. Britain, Canada and Australia have also recently issued warnings and called for added vigilance in the face of potential terrorist attacks. |
| Western embassies in Kenya are now considering withdrawing personnel, and many Western diplomats and Kenyans alike fear Kenya’s security services are too corrupt and disorganized to stop the Shabab. On top of that, the recent assassinations of several Islamist clerics, who many Kenyans believe were killed by secret government hit squads, and government roundups of ethnic Somalis have heightened mistrust and anger among Kenya’s sizable Muslim population. Many Kenyans fear the battle against the Shabab will be a long and unpleasant one, and already it has dented the economy, with tourism down significantly this year. | Western embassies in Kenya are now considering withdrawing personnel, and many Western diplomats and Kenyans alike fear Kenya’s security services are too corrupt and disorganized to stop the Shabab. On top of that, the recent assassinations of several Islamist clerics, who many Kenyans believe were killed by secret government hit squads, and government roundups of ethnic Somalis have heightened mistrust and anger among Kenya’s sizable Muslim population. Many Kenyans fear the battle against the Shabab will be a long and unpleasant one, and already it has dented the economy, with tourism down significantly this year. |