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| 'Islamists' attack Kenyan town near Lamu killing 48 | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| At least 48 people have died after suspected Islamist militants attacked hotels and a police station in a Kenyan coastal town, officials say. | |
| Witnesses in Mpeketoni said gun battles went on for several hours and reported seeing buildings set on fire. | Witnesses in Mpeketoni said gun battles went on for several hours and reported seeing buildings set on fire. |
| The town is close to Lamu island, which is a well-known tourist resort. | The town is close to Lamu island, which is a well-known tourist resort. |
| Kenya has suffered a number of militant attacks since 2011 when its forces entered neighbouring Somalia to combat al-Shabab fighters. | Kenya has suffered a number of militant attacks since 2011 when its forces entered neighbouring Somalia to combat al-Shabab fighters. |
| The BBC's Yusuf Dayo in Nairobi said 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 BBC's Yusuf Dayo in Nairobi said 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 that the attackers had hijacked a van and used it to attack various locations across the town. | Local residents told the BBC that the attackers had hijacked a van and used it to attack various locations across the town. |
| Witnesses said gunmen, who had their faces covered, threw explosives into the local police station before entering and stealing several weapons. | Witnesses said gunmen, who had their faces covered, threw explosives into the local police station before entering and stealing several weapons. |
| Al-Shabab attack? | Al-Shabab attack? |
| Local police chief Hamaton Mwaliko told Reuters that the gunmen set several hotels on fire after raiding the police station. | Local police chief Hamaton Mwaliko told Reuters that the gunmen set several hotels on fire after raiding the police station. |
| "We understand the attackers have already fled but our officers are pursuing them," Mr Mwaliko added. | "We understand the attackers have already fled but our officers are pursuing them," Mr Mwaliko added. |
| It is unclear who the gunmen are but Kenyan army spokesman Major Emmanuel Chirchir said the "assailants [are] likely to be al-Shabab." | It is unclear who the gunmen are but Kenyan army spokesman Major Emmanuel Chirchir said the "assailants [are] likely to be al-Shabab." |
| He said surveillance aircraft had been dispatched to the region to help with the security operation. | He said surveillance aircraft had been dispatched to the region to help with the security operation. |
| Bozo Jenje, a journalist in Mombasa, told the BBC that residents had reported seeing bodies scattered across roads in the town. | Bozo Jenje, a journalist in Mombasa, told the BBC that residents had reported seeing bodies scattered across roads in the town. |
| He said Mpeketoni was a mainly Christian community. | He said Mpeketoni was a mainly Christian community. |
| 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. |