This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/kenya-hotel-attack-suspected-alshabaab-militants-kill-48-people-in-mpeketoni-9539402.html
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Kenya attack: Suspected al-Shabaab militants kill 48 people in Mpeketoni | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| At least 48 people were killed in a small coastal town in Kenya on Sunday evening, after dozens of suspected Somali militants armed with automatic weapons attacked a police station, a bank and hotels, according to police. | At least 48 people were killed in a small coastal town in Kenya on Sunday evening, after dozens of suspected Somali militants armed with automatic weapons attacked a police station, a bank and hotels, according to police. |
| Kenya’s top commander David Kimaiyo confirmed the death toll on Monday, and said an officer who worked as a driver for a police chief in the town was among the fatalities. | Kenya’s top commander David Kimaiyo confirmed the death toll on Monday, and said an officer who worked as a driver for a police chief in the town was among the fatalities. |
| The militants hijacked a van and used it to travel to targets including the police station in the town of Mpeketoni, local residents told BBC News. Witnesses said that the gunmen threw explosives into the station before entering to steal weapons. | The militants hijacked a van and used it to travel to targets including the police station in the town of Mpeketoni, local residents told BBC News. Witnesses said that the gunmen threw explosives into the station before entering to steal weapons. |
| The gunmen then set two hotels on fire, and sprayed bullets into the streets during the incident that started at around 8pm local time, as residents watched Fifa World Cup matches on TV. | The gunmen then set two hotels on fire, and sprayed bullets into the streets during the incident that started at around 8pm local time, as residents watched Fifa World Cup matches on TV. |
| The attack reportedly met little resistance from Kenya’s security apparatus, and raged on until early Monday morning in the town around 30 miles (20km) southwest of the tourist resort of Lamu, and about 60 miles (100 km) from the Somali border. | The attack reportedly met little resistance from Kenya’s security apparatus, and raged on until early Monday morning in the town around 30 miles (20km) southwest of the tourist resort of Lamu, and about 60 miles (100 km) from the Somali border. |
| A Reuters television reporter in the town saw at least six bodies strewn on roads, as well as ten burnt-out vehicles in the area. | A Reuters television reporter in the town saw at least six bodies strewn on roads, as well as ten burnt-out vehicles in the area. |
| Many Mpeketoni residents fled from the attack into nearby forests, said Kimaiyo, adding no arrests had yet been made in connection with the attack. | Many Mpeketoni residents fled from the attack into nearby forests, said Kimaiyo, adding no arrests had yet been made in connection with the attack. |
| Some of the casualties had been evacuated to a hospital in Lamu, situated along the long coastline that runs north from Mombasa port to Somalia, Kenya Red Cross told reporters on Monday. | Some of the casualties had been evacuated to a hospital in Lamu, situated along the long coastline that runs north from Mombasa port to Somalia, Kenya Red Cross told reporters on Monday. |
| No group has yet claimed responsibility for the violence, but Kenyan authorities suspect al-Shabaab – the al-Qaida linked terror group based in neighbouring Somalia - or criminals. | No group has yet claimed responsibility for the violence, but Kenyan authorities suspect al-Shabaab – the al-Qaida linked terror group based in neighbouring Somalia - or criminals. |
| "All the dead are men. There are no women or children, and this fairly complicates matters. We may not tell immediately whether the attacks were done by Al Shabaab, the MRC (Mombasa Republican Council) or just mere criminals," Leonard Omollo, Lamu County police commander, told reporters. | "All the dead are men. There are no women or children, and this fairly complicates matters. We may not tell immediately whether the attacks were done by Al Shabaab, the MRC (Mombasa Republican Council) or just mere criminals," Leonard Omollo, Lamu County police commander, told reporters. |
| As residents watched football at the Breeze View Hotel, the attackers selected men to kill. The gunmen ordered the women to watch, telling them that this is what Kenyan troops do to Somali men in Somalia, according to a police commander speaking on a condition of anonymity. | As residents watched football at the Breeze View Hotel, the attackers selected men to kill. The gunmen ordered the women to watch, telling them that this is what Kenyan troops do to Somali men in Somalia, according to a police commander speaking on a condition of anonymity. |
| The Kenyan Interior Ministry confirmed that two minivans entered the town at about 8pm Sunday, from which militants disembarked and began shooting. Kenya's National Disaster Operations Center added that military surveillance planes were launched shortly afterwards. | The Kenyan Interior Ministry confirmed that two minivans entered the town at about 8pm Sunday, from which militants disembarked and began shooting. Kenya's National Disaster Operations Center added that military surveillance planes were launched shortly afterwards. |
| Kenya has experienced a wave of gunfire and explosive attacks in recent months. The US, UK, France, Australia, and Canada have all recently upgraded their terror threat warnings for the country, while US Marines are now stationed on the roof of the US Embassy in Nairobi. | Kenya has experienced a wave of gunfire and explosive attacks in recent months. The US, UK, France, Australia, and Canada have all recently upgraded their terror threat warnings for the country, while US Marines are now stationed on the roof of the US Embassy in Nairobi. |
| Lamu is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is the country's oldest continually inhabited town. The region saw a spate of kidnappings of foreign tourists in 2011 that Kenya said was part of its motivation for attacking Somalia. Since those attacks and subsequent terror warnings tourism has dropped off sharply around Lamu. | Lamu is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is the country's oldest continually inhabited town. The region saw a spate of kidnappings of foreign tourists in 2011 that Kenya said was part of its motivation for attacking Somalia. Since those attacks and subsequent terror warnings tourism has dropped off sharply around Lamu. |
| Al-Shabab has vowed to carry out terror attacks to avenge the Kenyan military presence in Somali which started in October 2011. At least 67 people were killed in September when four al-Shabab gunmen attacked an upscale mall in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. | Al-Shabab has vowed to carry out terror attacks to avenge the Kenyan military presence in Somali which started in October 2011. At least 67 people were killed in September when four al-Shabab gunmen attacked an upscale mall in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. |
| Additional reporting by agencies | Additional reporting by agencies |