KENYA: Government minister says at least 48 people have been killed in an assault, as soccer fans gathered to watch a World Cup match

Record ID: 354991

  • Title: KENYA: Government minister says at least 48 people have been killed in an assault, as soccer fans gathered to watch a World Cup match
  • Date: 16th June 2014
  • Summary: NAIROBI, KENYA (JUNE 16, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF PRESIDENT'S OFFICE KENYAN INTERIOR AND COORDINATION OF NATIONAL GOVERNMENT MINISTER, JOSEPH OLE LENKU, WALKING TO PODIUM JOURNALISTS LISTENING TO OLE LENKU (SOUNDBITE) (English) KENYAN INTERIOR AND COORDINATION OF NATIONAL GOVERNMENT MINISTER, JOSEPH OLE LENKU, SAYING: "On Sunday 15th June 2014 at about 9pm, un
  • Embargoed: 1st July 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kenya
  • Country: Kenya
  • Topics: Conflict,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA6EOM0YBMW1Y7OQGN9LWR0FTS1
  • Story Text: At least 48 people were killed when gunmen in two minibuses sped into a town on Kenya's coast, shooting soccer fans gathered to watch a World Cup match in a television hall and targeting hotels and a bank, police and witnesses said on Monday (June 16).
    Police said Somalia's Al Shabaab Islamist group was most likely to blame for Sunday night's assault on the town of Mpeketoni, which lies on the Indian Ocean coastline that runs north from Kenya's main port of Mombasa to the Somali border.
    Kenya's interior minister Joseph Ole Lenku said the attackers had left a trail of destruction behind them.
    "On Sunday 15th June 2014 at about 9pm, unknown number of armed militia attacked Mpeketoni and Kibaoni town in Lamu county. During the attack, 48 innocent lives were lost, over 20 vehicles burnt down and various properties destroyed," he said.
    Sunday's assault is the worst since last September when Al Shabaab gunmen attacked Nairobi's Westgate shopping mall, leaving 67 people dead.
    After Westgate, Al Shabaab warned of more attacks, saying they were determined to drive Kenyan troops out of Somalia.
    But Kenya had said it would be on alert during the World Cup to ensure public showings of matches were kept safe.
    In an apparent swipe at political opponents, Ole Lenku warned political leaders against holding public rallies, saying they were dividing and destabilising the country at a time when unity was needed.
    "Recently, I issued a caution to the effect that there is a line beyond which nobody should cross. The red line has since been crossed. Those engaging in incitement of public will be firmly dealt with in accordance with the law. The politicians are hereby warned to desist from inciting the public," the interior minister said.
    There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Sunday night's assault, the latest in a spate of gun and bomb attacks in recent months that have hurt Kenya's struggling tourist industry.
    Police said no arrests had yet been made and said an investigation was under way to determine whether militants or a criminal gang had carried out the attack.
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