147 students killed in Kenyan university by terrorists • president goodluck condemns attack

More than 147 people which are believed to be students have been
killed after an Islamic group stormed a university in eastern Kenya,
the country's interior minister said.
It occured just as the President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan
condemned the attack and commiserated with the families of the
victims.
Sky Newsreports that two police officers are among the dead following
heavy gunfire and explosions in a campus building at Garissa
University.
At least 79 others have been wounded.
Joseph Nkaissery,interior minister claimed the siege was almost over.
He added,we are mopping up the area," he told reporters.
Somalia's al Shabaab militant group has claimed responsibility for the
pre-dawn attack.
"We sorted people out and released the Muslims," said spokesman,
Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab.
"There are many dead bodies of Christians inside the building. We are
also holding many Christians alive. Killing still goes on inside the
college," he added.
Two of the militants have been killed and one arrested as he tried to
flee, according to Kenya's interior ministry. Red Cross counted 50
students that had been safely freed, while the interior ministry said
500 of 815 students had been accounted for.
A s tudent Michael Bwana, who managed to flee, said most of the
hostages were girls.
Kenya Police Chief Joseph Boinet told reporters that gunmen forced
their way into the university at 5.30am by shooting at the guards
manning the main gate.
"The terrorists shot sporadically while inside the university
compound," he said.
Some policemen… engaged the gunmen in a fierce shootout; however, the
attackers retreated and gained entry into one of the hostels."
A gunfight between security services and the perpetrators lasted
several hours, according to the Red Cross.
The area has been sealed off and the army called in to try and "flush
out" the attackers.
Students reported seeing five masked gunmen.
The authorities have offered a $215,000 (£145,000) reward for a man
called Mohamed Mohamud, who has been linked to the attack.
Collins Wetangula, the vice chairman of the student union, said he was
preparing to take a shower when he heard gunshots coming from a dorm.
"All I could hear were footsteps and gunshots; nobody was screaming
because they thought this would lead the gunmen to know where they
are," he said.
"The gunmen were saying sisi ni al-Shabab (Swahili for we are al-Shabab).
"If you were a Christian you were shot on the spot. With each blast of
the gun I thought I was going to die."
Grace Kai, a student at a neighbouring college, said there had been
warnings of an imminent attack.
It was learnt some strangers had been spotted in Garissa town and
were suspected to be terrorists," she said.
Monday our college principal told us… that strangers had been spotted
in our college. On Tuesday we were released to go home, and our
college closed, but the campus remained in session, and now they have
been attacked."
Kenya's northern and eastern regions, which border Somalia, have been
most affected by attacks blamed on al Shabaab Islamists from Somalia.
The militants, who have links to al Qaeda, have vowed to take
retribution against Kenya for sending its troops to Somalia.
Al Shabaab was responsible for the deadly attack in 2013 on the
Westgate shopping mall. At least 67 people were killed when a group of
gunmen rampaged through the centre in Nairobi.
On the latest raid, Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta said: "I extend
condolences to the families of those who have perished in this attack.
We continue to pray for the quick recovery of the injured, and the
safe rescue of those held hostage."
He added that 10,000 police recruits would be fast-tracked following the attack.
Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday commiserated with
the government and people of Kenya as well the families of those who
died in the terrorist attack.
In a statement by his spokesman, Reuben Abati, the President condemned
what he called deliberate targeting of innocent persons, schools and
other soft targets by terrorists.
He said such barbaric acts of violence ought to have no place in any
civilised society.
The statement added, "The President assures President Uhuru Kenyatta
and the brotherly people of Kenya that Nigeria stands in full
solidarity with them as they come to grips once again with the
aftermath of another heinous terrorist attack on their country.
"Nigeria, President Jonathan affirms, will continue to work with
Kenya, other African countries and the international community to rid
the world of all terrorist groups.
"The President believes that the attack on the Kenyan University and
other similar atrocities across the world must strengthen and solidify
the resolve of the global community to take more urgent and
co-ordinated actions to speedily defeat the agents of global terror.
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