The suspected Islamist militants reportedly attacked hotels and a police station in the town of Mpeketoni .
It's been reported that 50 gunmen attacked the town of Mpeketoni while the local people were watching the World Cup on TV.
Mpeketoni is in Lamu county along the Kenyan coast.
STRINGER/AFP / Getty Images
Locals told the BBC that the men hijacked a van and used it to attack various parts of the town.
The gunmen wore masks over their face, and threw explosives in the local police station, and then entered the station and stole weapons.
STRINGER/AFP / Getty Images
Witnesses have said the gun battle went on for hours, and that many buildings were set on fire, such as this home.
Police chief Hamaton Mwaliko said they also set fire to several hotels in the area, adding that "the attackers have already fled but our officers are pursuing them."
STRINGER/AFP / Getty Images
Major Emmanuel Chirchir, the Kenyan army spokesman, said the "assailants [are] likely to be al-Shabab."
Prior to this attack, the U.S. and the U.K. advised their nationals to keep away from the Kenyan coast as the country had been on high alert following warnings that al-Shabab was planning more attacks.
Most of the residents in Mpeketoni are said to be Christian.
STRINGER/AFP / Getty Images
from BuzzFeed - Breaking http://ift.tt/1i0ePyD
No comments:
Post a Comment