Source: (Photo by Uriel Sinai/Getty Images)
Al-Shabaab gunmen ambushed a college campus in Garissa in northeast Kenya early Thursday, initially slaughtering 15, wounding 65, and taking an untold number of hostages on a college campus in Kenya, according to Al Jazeera. That devastating number has climbed to 70 dead and 79 wounded. Two of the terrorists are included in the number of the deceased.
The attackers separated students by religion, letting Muslims go and kept an unknown number of Christians hostage.
The al-Qaeda-linked group targeted Christians in the 5 a.m. raid at Garissa University College, sending sleeping students scattering for cover in campus dormitories, the report says. Witnesses described chaos fueled by gunfire and explosions.
“We were sleeping when we heard a loud explosion that was followed by gunshots and everyone started running for safety,” student Japhet Mwala said.
From Al Jazeera:
Kenyan security forces have cordoned off the area, and have entered the compound laying siege to the block where the gunmen are holding their captives. Witnesses reported hearing sporadic exchanges of fire between police and the fighters…
Somalia’s al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab group said their gunmen were holding Christian hostages inside the complex in revenge for Nairobi’s troops fighting in Somalia.
All staff has been accounted for and most of them are helping to find all 815 students. It’s been reported that about 300 students who managed to escape sought refuge at a Kenya Defense Forces camp. Kenya is currently suffering from a police shortage and it’s being reported that 10,000 recruits have enrollment pending into the Kenya Police College.
This is a developing story. Check back with NewsOne for updates…
SOURCE: Al Jazeera | PHOTO CREDIT: Getty
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70 Killed, 79 Wounded In Al-Shabaab Massacre At University In Kenya was originally published on newsone.com
