Al-Shabaab claims responsibility for Kenya bus attack

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/19/kenya-bus-attack-al-shabaab-claims-responsibility

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Somalia's al-Qaida-linked al-Shabaab movement has claimed to be behind an attack by gunmen on a bus in Kenya that has killed seven people.

According to the Kenya Red Cross, two of the victims were security officials and five were civilians. Friday night's attack took place on the northern coast at Corner Mbaya, just outside the town of Witu. Previous coastal attacks have claimed at least 87 lives.

Gunmen blocked the bus with their car and sprayed it with bullets. According to Kenyan police, they also opened fire on a police car which had stopped to intervene, as well as a third car. Two lorries carrying mangos were also targeted, according to Reuters. Authorities believe many of the survivors of the attack in the 52-seater bus fled into a nearby forest.

Al-Shabaab has also taken responsibility for previous attacks in the area but the Kenyan government insists local political networks have been behind these. Despite the heavy deployment of security forces in the region following attacks in June and early July, the raids have continued.

Al-Shabaab has vowed to carry out a campaign of attacks to punish Kenya for sending its troops into Somalia, where they form part of the African Union force defending the country's beleaguered government. Referring to Friday's incident, Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, spokesman for al-Shabaab's military operations, told Reuters: "The attack was in response to Kenya's claim that it deployed more troops in the coast and thus tightened security … Kenya also lied by saying it destroyed al-Shabaab bases there – that is propaganda."

The recent attacks have been taking place near Lamu, an ancient trading port and beach resort. They have damaged Kenya's tourism industry and stirred up local animosities in a region where communities have a history of ethnic tension and conflict over land, water and other resources.

Hundreds of families have fled their homes in Lamu county despite government assurances that the attacks will soon end. The Kenya Red Cross has set up camps for residents who have left the area.

This week police said military planes had bombed at least four suspected hideouts in Lamu County's Boni forest.