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Kenya Garissa University shooting: Two killed after masked gunmen storm campus | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
At least two people have been killed and 30 injured after masked gunmen stormed a university in Kenya and began shooting indiscriminately. | |
Heavy gunfire was reported on Thursday morning at the Garissa University College and up to 49 were also injured. It is not known if the two fatalities were students at the college. | |
Kenya's National Police Service said armed militants shot at campus guards to gain entry, triggering a "fierce shootout". The attackers still managed to get inside one of the student hostels and some students remain trapped inside. | |
Students of the Garissa University College take shelter in a vehicle after fleeing from an attack by gunmen (AP) Police fear the gunmen may have taken hostages, although the number being held is not known. Police and military forces say they are now trying to “flush out” gunmen from the campus. | |
One Red Cross official told the BBC the attack began at 5am when a grenade was launched at the university’s gates. | |
“The attackers went into the girl’s hostel which is when they took the hostel over," she said. "Forces responded and took over the operation and they have locked down the campus. | |
“According to local county government officials on the ground, we have 30 casualties, who have been taken to hospital. Four of them are very serious and most of the casualties have gunshot injuries.” | |
Kenya Defence Forces soldiers move behind a thicket in Garissa town A policewoman at the scene told Reuters up to 49 people had been wounded in the attack, all with bullet and shrapnel wounds. | |
No-one has claimed responsibility for the shooting yet. The Islamist militant group al-Shabaab has been responsible for a string of violent attacks in Kenya over recent years, which it claims are retribution for Kenya sending troops into Somalia. | |
Additional reporting by agencies |