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| Kenya Garissa University shooting: Two killed after masked gunmen storm campus | Kenya Garissa University shooting: Two killed after masked gunmen storm campus |
| (33 minutes later) | |
| At least four people have been killed and after masked gunmen stormed a university in Kenya and began shooting indiscriminately. | |
| Heavy gunfire was reported on Thursday morning at the Garissa University College near the Somalian border. Up to 49 people were also injured in an attack officials suspect was carried out by the al-Shabaab Islamist militant group. | |
| Two of the fatalities were guards at the university gates. | |
| 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. | 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. | 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. |
| The US Embassy in Nairobi condemned the shooting as a "terrorist attack" on its official Twitter feed. | |
| We are saddened & angered by today’s terrorist attack @ #Garissa Univ. Our deepest condolences 2 family/friends of victims. #CowardsNeverWin | |
| One Red Cross official told the BBC the attack began at 5am local time 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. | “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.” | “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. | 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 formally claimed responsibility for the shooting yet. 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 | Additional reporting by agencies |