Al-Shabab 'kills Christians' in Kenya's Mandera to
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Posted On: 10/06/2016 7:57:38 AM
Al-Shabab 'kills Christians' in Kenya's Mandera town
Militant Islamist group al-Shabab says it has killed six Christians in north-eastern Kenya in an attack aimed at forcing them out of the region.
The grenade and gun attack was launched on a residential block in Mandera town when people were sleeping, police said.
It was the latest in a spate of deadly attacks targeting Christians in the mainly Muslim region.
In December 2014, al-Shabab killed 38 non-Muslims at a quarry after separating them from Muslim workers.
A few months earlier, 28 people were killed after Muslim passengers were split up from the other passengers.
When al-Shabab killed 148 people in an attack on Kenya's north-eastern Garissa University College in April 2015, the militants reportedly singled out Christians and shot them, while freeing many Muslims.
The latest raid took place in the early hours of Thursday in an area popular with people who came from outside Mandera town, reports the BBC's Ferdinand Omondi from Kenya.
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Kenya bus attack survivor: 'I played dead'
The attack happened as "planned" and was aimed at Christians in Mandera town, a radio station run by al-Shabab has reported.
The group wanted non-Muslims to leave what it regarded as Muslim areas, a spokesman told the BBC.
Mandera County Governor Ali Roba confirmed that six people had been killed and one seriously wounded in the raid on a public works site in the town.
Security forces responded quickly, managing to save 27 other people, he added in a tweet.
Mr Roba did not disclose the religious affiliation of those targeted.
"We grieve with our families... Sadly, six lives are too many to lose," he said.
Mandera borders Somalia, making it vulnerable to attacks from militants based there. The militants usually cross the porous border, carrying out deadly attacks on civilians and security agents before fleeing back.
In 2015, Kenya's government announced that it would build a security wall along parts of the border to keep the militants out. But it is likely to abandon the plan because of strong resistance from Somalia's government and border communities.
Its current focus is on recruiting more local Muslim police reservists and the strategy has had some success in curbing attacks. Muslims in the north-east increasingly see al-Shabab as a threat to their own interests, and are making a concerted effort to improve relations with Christians living there.
Many of the Christians are skilled workers from other parts of Kenya, making a vital contribution to hospitals and schools. The north-east is one of Kenya's poorest areas and if they are driven out public services will worsen.
Why is al-Shabab targeting Kenya?
Who are Somalia's al-Shabab?
Rivalry among East Africa's militants
Al-Shabab: A defector's tale
Al-Shabab is headquartered in Somalia and is affiliated to al-Qaeda.
The militants have been at war with Kenya ever since Kenyan forces entered Somalia in October 2011 in an effort to crush them.
Kenyan troops are now part of the African Union mission in Somalia fighting the group.
Militant Islamist group al-Shabab says it has killed six Christians in north-eastern Kenya in an attack aimed at forcing them out of the region.
The grenade and gun attack was launched on a residential block in Mandera town when people were sleeping, police said.
It was the latest in a spate of deadly attacks targeting Christians in the mainly Muslim region.
In December 2014, al-Shabab killed 38 non-Muslims at a quarry after separating them from Muslim workers.
A few months earlier, 28 people were killed after Muslim passengers were split up from the other passengers.
When al-Shabab killed 148 people in an attack on Kenya's north-eastern Garissa University College in April 2015, the militants reportedly singled out Christians and shot them, while freeing many Muslims.
The latest raid took place in the early hours of Thursday in an area popular with people who came from outside Mandera town, reports the BBC's Ferdinand Omondi from Kenya.
Africa Live: More on this and other stories
Kenya bus attack survivor: 'I played dead'
The attack happened as "planned" and was aimed at Christians in Mandera town, a radio station run by al-Shabab has reported.
The group wanted non-Muslims to leave what it regarded as Muslim areas, a spokesman told the BBC.
Mandera County Governor Ali Roba confirmed that six people had been killed and one seriously wounded in the raid on a public works site in the town.
Security forces responded quickly, managing to save 27 other people, he added in a tweet.
Mr Roba did not disclose the religious affiliation of those targeted.
"We grieve with our families... Sadly, six lives are too many to lose," he said.
Mandera borders Somalia, making it vulnerable to attacks from militants based there. The militants usually cross the porous border, carrying out deadly attacks on civilians and security agents before fleeing back.
In 2015, Kenya's government announced that it would build a security wall along parts of the border to keep the militants out. But it is likely to abandon the plan because of strong resistance from Somalia's government and border communities.
Its current focus is on recruiting more local Muslim police reservists and the strategy has had some success in curbing attacks. Muslims in the north-east increasingly see al-Shabab as a threat to their own interests, and are making a concerted effort to improve relations with Christians living there.
Many of the Christians are skilled workers from other parts of Kenya, making a vital contribution to hospitals and schools. The north-east is one of Kenya's poorest areas and if they are driven out public services will worsen.
Why is al-Shabab targeting Kenya?
Who are Somalia's al-Shabab?
Rivalry among East Africa's militants
Al-Shabab: A defector's tale
Al-Shabab is headquartered in Somalia and is affiliated to al-Qaeda.
The militants have been at war with Kenya ever since Kenyan forces entered Somalia in October 2011 in an effort to crush them.
Kenyan troops are now part of the African Union mission in Somalia fighting the group.
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