Al-Shabab claims responsibility for killings in Kenyan bus attack

World Today

Kenya Al-Shabaab victimsA mourge attendant receives bodies of the victims killed in a dawn attack on a bus in which 28 non-Muslims were singled  out and killed on November 22, 2014,about 50 kilometres (31 miles) from the town of Mandera near Kenya’s border with Somalia. (AFP PHOTO: SIMON MAINA)

A deadly attack on a bus in Northern Kenya has killed at least 28 people. The Somalia-based militant group al-Shabab has claimed responsibility. The attack took place near the border with Somalia. The victims bodies are  being returned to the capital Nairobi. CCTV America’s Celestine Karoney had the report from Kenya.

The attack took place in Mandera County near the Somali border. The bus was traveling to Nairobi when it was stopped.

Witnesses said the gunmen made passengers read from the Koran. Those who couldn’t were shot in the head at point blank range.

“We can confirm that the attack has resulted in the death of 28 persons who were involved in this particular attack,” said David Kimaiyo, Kenya’s Inspector General of police.

Al-Shabab claimed responsibility soon after. The Somali militant group said it was in retaliation to Kenya’s armed operations in Somalia.

“We are confirming from the manifest from the bus that the number of people that were in that bus were about 60 and only a rough figure that we have given of about 28, 29 or so because we are yet to clear the scene to confirm the number of deaths and the number of those who are still alive,” Kimaiyo said.

Reports indicated that the attackers fled on foot across the border into Somalia. Kenyan authorities reportedly followed. The counter-attack targeted a camp and, according to the army, many militants were killed.