Somali militants say they captured Kenyan hostages
GARISSA, Kenya — An al-Qaida affiliated Somali militant group said Thursday that it took several hostages in a raid in northern Kenya that killed at least six people.
Three policemen, a civil servant and a primary school teacher were among the six killed in the attack late Wednesday, said North Eastern Province Police Commissioner James ole Seriani. A pregnant woman was also killed, said relative Adan Gedi.
Seriani said at least four government officials are missing, including a district officer.
The press release from the Somali militant group al-Shabab did not specify how many hostages had been taken from the northern town of Gerille, near the Somali border, but said their identities would soon be released. Al-Shabab said seven people were killed and that they seized vehicles, communication equipment and a cache of weapons.
The seizure of a police vehicle and communication equipment was confirmed by the officer commanding the police division in Wajir, George Tonui.
Seriani said the militants had disabled police communications to prevent reinforcements from coming after they launched their attack. The militants came around sunset, as the Kenyan security services were holding prayers, said Sgt. Yusuf Osman, who was hospitalized with a bullet wound.
The raid follows a Kenyan army claim that they killed a high-ranking al-Shabab commander in southern Somalia last week, and the arrest of a man police said was charged with handling explosives.
Al-Shabab says the raid on a police camp was in response to Kenya's decision to send troops into Somalia in October.
Kenya said it sent in the troops after a string of attacks by Somali militants on Kenyan soil. But the militants deny the attacks, blaming them on freelance gunmen instead.
Lawless Somalia has not had a functioning government for 21 years.
Source http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/somali-militants-say-they-1300566.html
Three policemen, a civil servant and a primary school teacher were among the six killed in the attack late Wednesday, said North Eastern Province Police Commissioner James ole Seriani. A pregnant woman was also killed, said relative Adan Gedi.
Seriani said at least four government officials are missing, including a district officer.
The press release from the Somali militant group al-Shabab did not specify how many hostages had been taken from the northern town of Gerille, near the Somali border, but said their identities would soon be released. Al-Shabab said seven people were killed and that they seized vehicles, communication equipment and a cache of weapons.
The seizure of a police vehicle and communication equipment was confirmed by the officer commanding the police division in Wajir, George Tonui.
Seriani said the militants had disabled police communications to prevent reinforcements from coming after they launched their attack. The militants came around sunset, as the Kenyan security services were holding prayers, said Sgt. Yusuf Osman, who was hospitalized with a bullet wound.
The raid follows a Kenyan army claim that they killed a high-ranking al-Shabab commander in southern Somalia last week, and the arrest of a man police said was charged with handling explosives.
Al-Shabab says the raid on a police camp was in response to Kenya's decision to send troops into Somalia in October.
Kenya said it sent in the troops after a string of attacks by Somali militants on Kenyan soil. But the militants deny the attacks, blaming them on freelance gunmen instead.
Lawless Somalia has not had a functioning government for 21 years.
Source http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/somali-militants-say-they-1300566.html
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