6 killed in Kenya as al-Shabab claims to target Christians
NAIROBI, Kenya — Suspected Islamic extremists killed six people in an attack in northern Kenya near the border with Somalia, an official said Thursday, while the al-Shabab extremist group claimed it had targeted Christians.
The gunmen targeted 33 non-Muslims living in a residential block but security forces’ quick response saved other lives, Mandera County Governor Ali Roba said in a statement. He said the attack occurred near the Bulla area in the early morning.
The Somalia-based Al-Shabab, through its Andulus radio station, claimed responsibility. The station quoted an unnamed al-Shabab official saying: “It was a well-planned attack which targeted Christian members in Mandera.”
Kenya government spokesman Eric Kiraithe said security agencies had received intelligence that there would be an attack in Mandera, “but there was no actual and accurate specific intelligence on this particular attack,” Kiraithe told reporters.