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| Kenya attack: Mpeketoni near Lamu hit by deadly raid | Kenya attack: Mpeketoni near Lamu hit by deadly raid |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| At least 48 people have died after unidentified gunmen attacked hotels and a police station in a Kenyan coastal town, officials say. | At least 48 people have died after unidentified gunmen attacked hotels and a police station in a Kenyan coastal town, officials say. |
| Witnesses in Mpeketoni said gun battles lasted for several hours and reported seeing buildings set on fire. | Witnesses in Mpeketoni said gun battles lasted for several hours and reported seeing buildings set on fire. |
| The town is on the mainland near Lamu island, a well-known tourist resort. | The town is on the mainland near Lamu island, a well-known tourist resort. |
| Kenya has suffered numerous militant attacks since 2011 when its forces entered neighbouring Somalia to combat the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab group. | Kenya has suffered numerous militant attacks since 2011 when its forces entered neighbouring Somalia to combat the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab group. |
| This is the most deadly attack in Kenya since at least 67 people were killed during a siege by al-Shabab fighters at Nairobi's Westgate shopping centre last September. | This is the most deadly attack in Kenya since at least 67 people were killed during a siege by al-Shabab fighters at Nairobi's Westgate shopping centre last September. |
| Kenyan army spokesman Major Emmanuel Chirchir said the attackers were "likely to be al-Shabab", but the group has not yet commented. | Kenyan army spokesman Major Emmanuel Chirchir said the attackers were "likely to be al-Shabab", but the group has not yet commented. |
| Other unconfirmed reports said the raid was linked to a land dispute between rival communities in the remote area. | Other unconfirmed reports said the raid was linked to a land dispute between rival communities in the remote area. |
| Interior Minister Joseph Ole Lenku described the attackers as bandits, and said they had crossed a "red line". | |
| "I want to assure Kenyans that the perpetrators of this heinous act will be pursued to face the full force of the law," he said at a news conference. | |
| Police fought fierce battles with the gunmen, who fled into a nearby forest, Mr Ole Lenku said. | |
| President Uhuru Kenyatta earlier summoned Mr Ole Lenku and police chief David Kimaiyo to discuss the security situation, reports the BBC's Caroline Karobia from Nairobi. | |
| The attack started at 20:30 local time (17:30 GMT) on Sunday as locals were watching a football World Cup match on television. | The attack started at 20:30 local time (17:30 GMT) on Sunday as locals were watching a football World Cup match on television. |
| Local residents told the BBC the gunmen hijacked a van and used it to attack various locations across Mpeketoni, which tourists travelling by road pass through before crossing to Lamu. | Local residents told the BBC the gunmen hijacked a van and used it to attack various locations across Mpeketoni, which tourists travelling by road pass through before crossing to Lamu. |
| Timeline of Somali raids in Kenya | Timeline of Somali raids in Kenya |
| September 2011: UK national Judith Tebbutt kidnapped and her husband David killed in raid on Kiwayu island, north of Lamu. She was released six months later by a pirate gang | September 2011: UK national Judith Tebbutt kidnapped and her husband David killed in raid on Kiwayu island, north of Lamu. She was released six months later by a pirate gang |
| October 2011: Kenya sends troops into Somalia following Tebbutt's kidnapping and cross-border raids by al-Shabab; Al-Shabab warns of revenge attacks | October 2011: Kenya sends troops into Somalia following Tebbutt's kidnapping and cross-border raids by al-Shabab; Al-Shabab warns of revenge attacks |
| Since then, numerous attacks in Nairobi, Mombasa and north-eastern region of Kenya, inhabited by ethnic Somalis | Since then, numerous attacks in Nairobi, Mombasa and north-eastern region of Kenya, inhabited by ethnic Somalis |
| September 2013: At least 67 people killed after al-Shabab militants take control of Westgate shopping centre in Nairobi | September 2013: At least 67 people killed after al-Shabab militants take control of Westgate shopping centre in Nairobi |
| May 2014: UK issues travel advisory, warning of increased risk of terror attack in Nairobi and coastal areas - UK tourists evacuated | May 2014: UK issues travel advisory, warning of increased risk of terror attack in Nairobi and coastal areas - UK tourists evacuated |
| June 2014: At least 48 people killed in raid on Mpeketoni | June 2014: At least 48 people killed in raid on Mpeketoni |
| All those killed are believed to be locals. The Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) says no foreigners were in the town at the time of the attack. | |
| Witnesses said gunmen, who had their faces covered, threw explosives into the local police station before entering and stealing weapons. | |
| Kenya has been on high alert recently following warnings that al-Shabab was planning more attacks. | |
| The US and UK have issued advisories to their nationals to keep away from parts of the Kenyan coast. | The US and UK have issued advisories to their nationals to keep away from parts of the Kenyan coast. |
| Sunday's attack comes days after the UK government closed its consulate in the port city of Mombasa, citing heightened security threats. | Sunday's attack comes days after the UK government closed its consulate in the port city of Mombasa, citing heightened security threats. |
| Surveillance aircraft | Surveillance aircraft |
| District deputy commissioner Benson Maisori said several buildings in Mpeketoni had been burned down, including hotels, restaurants, banks and government offices, the AFP news agency reports. | |
| "There were around 50 attackers, heavily armed in three vehicles, and they were flying the Shabab flag. They were shouting in Somali and shouting 'Allahu Akbar' [God is Great]," he said. | "There were around 50 attackers, heavily armed in three vehicles, and they were flying the Shabab flag. They were shouting in Somali and shouting 'Allahu Akbar' [God is Great]," he said. |
| However, Lamu County police commander Leonard Omollo told Reuters news agency that it was still unclear who carried out the attack. | However, Lamu County police commander Leonard Omollo told Reuters news agency that it was still unclear who carried out the attack. |
| The gunmen singled out men, sparing the lives of women and children, he said. | The gunmen singled out men, sparing the lives of women and children, he said. |
| Local resident John Waweru, 28, said two of his brothers had been killed. | Local resident John Waweru, 28, said two of his brothers had been killed. |
| "The attackers came in around 9pm. I heard them shouting in Somali as they fired around. I lost two of my brothers, and I escaped. I ran and locked up myself in a house," he told AFP. | "The attackers came in around 9pm. I heard them shouting in Somali as they fired around. I lost two of my brothers, and I escaped. I ran and locked up myself in a house," he told AFP. |
| Major Chirchir said surveillance aircraft had been dispatched to the region to help track down the attackers. | Major Chirchir said surveillance aircraft had been dispatched to the region to help track down the attackers. |
| Nearby Lamu island is a popular tourist destination with ancient architecture that is listed as a Unesco World Heritage site. | Nearby Lamu island is a popular tourist destination with ancient architecture that is listed as a Unesco World Heritage site. |
| UK national Judith Tebbutt was kidnapped by gunmen in September 2011 from the remote resort of Kiwayu, north-east of Lamu. | UK national Judith Tebbutt was kidnapped by gunmen in September 2011 from the remote resort of Kiwayu, north-east of Lamu. |
| The gang also shot dead her 58-year-old husband, David Tebbutt. | The gang also shot dead her 58-year-old husband, David Tebbutt. |
| Mrs Tebbutt was released six months later after a ransom was paid to pirates holding her captive in Somalia. | Mrs Tebbutt was released six months later after a ransom was paid to pirates holding her captive in Somalia. |
| Are you in Mpeketoni? Have you been affected by the recent activities? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the title 'Mpeketoni'. | Are you in Mpeketoni? Have you been affected by the recent activities? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the title 'Mpeketoni'. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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