Up to 150 people were said to have been
murdered by masked al-Shabaab terrorists who stormed a Kenyan university
and shot and beheaded Christians in the worst attack in the country in 17
years.
The group raided the Garissa University
College campus shortly after 5am local time, overwhelming guards and murdering
people they suspected of being Christians.
The death toll rose to 147 last night and the
13-hour siege ended. A total of 79 were injured and 587 were led to safety.
Most of those killed were students but two
police officers, one soldier and two watchmen are among the dead.
Kenya's interior minister, Joseph Nkaissery
said the four terrorist gunmen had strapped themselves with explosives. When
officers shot at them, they exploded 'like bombs' and shrapnel injured
officers.
Kenyan security officials at the scene said
dozens of hostages were freed and four of the gunmen, believed to be armed with
AK-47s, were killed.
The attack is believed to be the worst terrorist attack on Kenyan soil since the bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi in 1998 which killed more than 200 people.
The terrorists stuck mid-way through Holy Week, the most solemn period in the Christian calendar. Last night, the Christian students were planning to celebrate the Last Supper in preparation for Good Friday.
Pictures on social media of one of the dorms showed bloodstained floors, bodies of male students and splintered wooden chairs.
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