At least 48 people were killed Sunday into Monday morning, some reportedly for admitting that they were not Muslim, in an attack by the al-Shabab terrorist group on a coastal town in Kenya.
According to the Associated Press, the assault on Mpeketoni began Sunday night while many in the city were watching the World Cup. In September, more than 60 people were killed during an al-Shabab attack on the Westgate Mall in Kenya’s capital; the Islamists have pledged to avenge Kenya’s military intervention in Somalia, which has been ongoing since 2011. Here’s more from the AP:
Like the gunmen who attacked Nairobi’s Westgate Mall last year, the Mpeketoni attackers gave life-or-death religious assessment, a witness said, killing those who were not Muslim.
“They came to our house at around 8 p.m. and asked us in Swahili whether we were Muslims. My husband told them we were Christians and they shot him in the head and chest,” said Anne Gathigi.
Kenyan Interior Minister Joseph Ole Lenku said the attackers escaped to the forest after a gun battle with security forces. Al-Shabab has officially declared Kenya a “war zone” and warned foreigners to stay away from the country.
