Kenya charges five over al-Shabab's Garissa massacre


Tanzanian national Rashid Charles Mberesero (L) stands inside the dock with Osman Abdi Dakane (2nd L), Sahal Diriye Hussein (C), Hassan Aden Hassan (2nd R), Mohamed Abdi Abikar (R) at the Milimani Law Courts in Kenya"s capital Nairobi, June 4, 2015
The accused want to be released on bail

Five men have been charged in a Kenyan court with 162 counts of terrorism following the deadly assault by militant Islamists on Garissa University College in April.

The four Kenyans and one Tanzanian conspired to commit "a terrorist act" at the university, the charge sheet alleges. The men denied the charges.

They are the first people to be charged in connection with the massacre.

Al-Shabab said it carried out the attack, which killed 148 people.

The group is headquartered in Somalia, but has become increasingly active in Kenya in recent years.

The Garissa attack was the deadliest carried out by al-Shabab, which is affiliated to al-Qaeda.

Grey line
screen grab

Get the latest news updates on the Africa live page.

Grey line

Most of those who died in the raid were students and the attackers singled out Christians to be killed, while sparing Muslims.

The names of the 148 killed were all read out in a court in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, the AFP news agency reports.

Judge Daniel Ogembo remanded the accused in custody until 11 June when the court will rule on their bail application, it reports.

Relatives hold portraits of those killed during the attack on Garissa University College, Nairobi, Kenya - 9 April 2015
Most of those who died in the day-long siege were undergraduates
Source http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-33013965

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Pak off FATF Grey List; ‘Black Spot’ on Fight Against Terror Irks India; J&K Guv Says 'World is Watching'

‘The chances of nuclear use are minimal. Both Russia & Ukraine are well aware of results’: DB Venkatesh Varma

3 Pakistanis among 7 terrorists gunned down in Kashmir Valley, says J&K Police