The massacre that killed 147 people and wounded scores of others at a Kenyan university lasted for hours before the terror was over. The death toll has been recorded the highest in a terror attack on Kenyan soil since the U.S. Embassy was bombed in 1998.
It all happened when Islamist gunmen burst into the university before dawn yesterday, shooting students and taking hostages during early Morning Prayer services. At one point, the attackers cornered a building in which 360 students live, but some of the students escaped.
The attackers separated students by religion, allowing Muslims to leave and keeping an unknown number of Christians were killed on the spot or taken hostage.
Somalia-based Al-Shabaab militant group have claimed responsibility for the assault.
The gunmen exchanged gunfire with security forces including police and Kenyan Military for several hours.
Students who managed to escape said 5 gunmen wearing masks broke in on Thursday morning about 5:30am.
''Some of us were still asleep in that mist of confusion, no one had an idea what was going on, sreams from ladies and every person. It was evident everyone was running for their lives,'' One witness said
There were reports that some people ran the wrong way into the direction of the terrorists while others hid in fields and inside the campus for hours.
Last month, Garissa University College Chief Security Officer informed the campus that itr was a target and that Al-Qaeda-Linked Shabaab was planning an attack.
Some students also witnessed to have seen some strangers spotted at Garissa town and in the college
The gunmen exchanged gunfire with security forces including police and Kenyan Military for several hours.
Students who managed to escape said 5 gunmen wearing masks broke in on Thursday morning about 5:30am.
''Some of us were still asleep in that mist of confusion, no one had an idea what was going on, sreams from ladies and every person. It was evident everyone was running for their lives,'' One witness said
There were reports that some people ran the wrong way into the direction of the terrorists while others hid in fields and inside the campus for hours.
Last month, Garissa University College Chief Security Officer informed the campus that itr was a target and that Al-Qaeda-Linked Shabaab was planning an attack.
Some students also witnessed to have seen some strangers spotted at Garissa town and in the college
However, he Kenyan interior minister has declared a man wanted in connection with the attack. The notice offers a reward of 20 million Kenyan shillings, which is about $215,000. The name listed is Mohamed Mohamud, who also goes by the aliases Dulyadin and Gamadhere. "We appeal to anyone with any info on #Gamadhere to share with relevant authorities and security agencies," the Interior Ministry posted on Twitter.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned what he called a "terrorist attack" and said the UN was ready to help Kenya "prevent and counter terrorism and violent extremism".
The United States said it was offering Nairobi assistance to take on al-Shabab and would continue to work with others in the region to take on the group.
Al-Shabab says it attacked the university because it is at war with Kenya, BBC Africa analyst Mary Harper reports.
Kenyan troops entered Somalia in October 2011 in an effort to stop the Islamists from crossing the long, porous border between the two countries and kidnapping people - but their presence achieved the opposite effect, provoking al-Shabab to increase its activity in Kenya, our correspondent adds.
The attack was deadlier than an Al-Shabaab attack on the Westgate shopping centre in Nairobi in September 2013 that left 67 people dead
source- CNN and BBC
source- CNN and BBC
14 comments:
Christians are cowards and weaklings, hidding their fears under the cover of religion....
so do you want Christians to start retaliating?
Many Muslims claim that their religion is peaceful but how can we reconcile this claim with their violent acts. Is there any aspect of Koran that supports violence? Do Muslims resolves issues with violence? @ Ellis Igbinovia, can you support your claim that Christians are cowards for not relaliating?
For me, i grew up in a Muslim environment and i know Islam does not support violence. Religion has become a big problem in the world. What else can be done to fight these terrorist group hiding on the back of religion to inflict pain on the people? I think all countries need to join forces together to fight terrorism as it has become a global issue.
Not until Christians start retaliating all this rubish will not stop.....
I was in kano some yes back when similar act of violence burst out... I happen to be living in an area closes to where many ibos do their usual businesses.... they fought back and ever since then no such violence rehappen.....
Read the bible and understand it..... God will never come back from heaven to fight any physical fight for us because he has given us all the power and grace.....,
So, are you saying God will support violence for violence?
There are so many ways to fight back violence..... ever since this issues of religious violence are happening in Nigeria how many great men of God has gone to those directions to organize converting crusades?
@Ojo please the story of David and Goliath is one of many answers in the bible to your question.
oh no. they did this? i hate terrorism. i agree Islam is a voilent religion. the extremist are d bad eggs
Ojo Michael, in Ecclesiastics there is a Cali's verse that says "there is a time for every purpose under heaven, a time for peace and a time for war' Want another one?
@O.S Giwa-Osagie, Good points. But, if I may ask you, given the teachings of Jesus on how to resolve issues, would it be correct to say that God supports violence?
You have all answered my question partially. Did God support retaliation? You have all alluded to the Holy War in the O.T which reasons are obvious based on that context. I want to ask as again: can God support violence for violence?
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