KENYA: Bodies of those killed in latest raids on Kenyan coast claimed by Somali Islamists are collected by police

Record ID: 355872

  • Title: KENYA: Bodies of those killed in latest raids on Kenyan coast claimed by Somali Islamists are collected by police
  • Date: 6th July 2014
  • Summary: +++EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: EDIT CONTAINS GRAPHIC IMAGES+++ HINDI, KENYA (JULY 6, 2014) (REUTERS) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) HINDI RESIDENTS STANDING LOOKING AT A DEAD BODY LYING ON GROUND BODY LYING ON GROUND WITH HANDS TIED FROM BEHIND FAMILY MEMBERS STANDING NEXT TO BODY OF KILLED RELATIVE LYING ON GROUND FAMILY MEMBERS OF VICTIM POLICE ARRIVING AT VILLAGE POLICE STANDING GUARD IN
  • Embargoed: 21st July 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kenya
  • Country: Kenya
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVABDB679LFT9YXQRYZEXUGNHH21
  • Story Text: Police in Hindi, a trading town in Kenya's Lamu County, on Sunday (July 6) collected bodies of victims of an attack by gunmen killed at least 29 people in raids on two coastal areas of Kenya.
    The killings are the latest in a series of attacks claimed by Somali Islamists who have vowed to drive Kenyan forces out of Somalia, although a police officer cast doubt on their role.
    The Interior Ministry said one attack killed nine in the trading town of Hindi in Lamu County, the same district where about 65 people were killed by gunmen last month. Another was further south in the Gamba area, where 20 died.
    Most of the bodies recovered by police were of men whose hands were tied at the back before being killed. The bodies were mostly on the road side while others were outside their houses.
    Relatives of those killed could be seen grieving next to their loved ones as police gathered up the bodies.
    Saturday's raids will hammer an already beleaguered tourist industry that has been hit by a wave of militant attacks and will deepen public frustrations about poor security in Kenya a day before a big opposition rally is planned for the capital.
    Sheikh Abdiasis abu Musab, spokesman for al Shabaab's military operations, told Reuters in Mogadishu that the Somalia-based group was behind both attacks on Saturday night. It had also said it was responsible for the June raids in Lamu County, around Mpeketoni.
    But President Uhuru Kenyatta dismissed al Shabaab's claim last month and blamed local politicians, stoking an already fierce row with the opposition, which denied any role.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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