KENYA: Islamist militants kill 15 more in new attack on Kenyan coast

Record ID: 354992

  • Title: KENYA: Islamist militants kill 15 more in new attack on Kenyan coast
  • Date: 17th June 2014
  • Summary: MPEKETONI, KENYA (JUNE 17, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF ARMED POLICE WALKING ON STREET / TYRES ON FIRE PEOPLE SITTING ON BURNT VEHICLE (SOUNDBITE) (Swahili) ADMINISTRATION POLICE COMMANDANT, PETER PAMBA, SAYING: "We are going to mount roadblocks everywhere and we will make sure that we go after them wherever they go. All we want from you now is information and we will go
  • Embargoed: 2nd July 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kenya
  • Country: Kenya
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAC4F7SBFIND55BTCL6PLNM9GE2
  • Story Text: Somali-linked Islamist militants killed at least 15 people in a second night of attacks on Kenya's coast on Monday (June 17), a day after an assault on nearby town left almost 50 dead, officials said.
    Armed men went door to door hours before dawn in Poromoko village, ordered people outside and made them recite the Islamic creed, said one witness. He did not see what happened to anyone who failed.
    Somalia's al Shabaab militants claimed responsibility for the two days of attacks and said it would continue its campaign in the east African nation, whose tourist industry has been battered by a rise in militant violence.
    In response, Kenyan security forces mounted road blocks in the hope of apprehending those behind the attacks.
    "We are going to mount roadblocks everywhere and we will make sure that we go after them wherever they go. All we want from you now is information and we will go after them," said Kenyan Administration Police Commandant Peter Pamba.
    The militant group has said it is punishing Kenya for sending troops to Somalia to confront its Islamist fighters.
    Sunday's (June 15) assault on the town of Mpeketoni was the worst since al Shabaab gunmen stormed Nairobi's Westgate shopping mall in September, leaving 67 dead.
    The new attacks have added to mounting public criticism of the government for failing to do more to secure the nation.
    Kenya's paramilitary general service unit commandant Joel Kitili tried to assure the public that they were doing their best to protect them.
    "We are not sleeping; we have been working very hard since this incident. These problems are not isolated. We know you are not sleeping well too so we are doing our best," he said.
    The tourist industry has been taking a hammering because of security worries that have prompted Western nations to tighten travel advisories for their citizens.
    Some hotels on the palm-fringed coastal region now say they face closure, while hotels which offer safaris up country say bookings are down 30 percent - a worrying sign as the July to September peak tourist season approaches.
    Buses working on the tourist route from Mombasa to Lamu, an historic Arab trading post that is a popular attraction, said they were now struggling to find enough passengers.
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