17 killed as Garissa University College attacked by gunmen

Politics and policy

A map showing the location of Garissa University College. PHOTO | GOOGLE MAPS 

By ABDIMALIK HAJIR and AGENCIES

In Summary

• There is heavy police presence around the institution and several ambulances are on standby.
• The gunmen are said to have attacked the institution around 5.30am Thursday.

At least 17 people, including two security guards, are reported killed and dozens injured after suspected Al Shabaab gunmen attacked Garissa University College Thursday.

Kenya Red Cross officials say 65 people were injured by the attackers and have been rushed to hospital.

Police say the five-or-so masked gunmen attacked the institution, a constituent college of the Moi University, at around 5.30am Thursday.

Nation reporter Abdimalik Hajir said he saw the bodies of two guards near the main gate of the institution. He said gunshots could be heard from the students’ hostels.

Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and police entered the university’s compound and engaged the attackers in a gunfight.

Terrified students rescued from the college were gathered at a KDF camp near the Garissa airstrip.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery, who travelled to Garissa with Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet, told journalists 282 of the university’s 815 students had been accounted for.

“Efforts are underway to track (down) the others,” he said. The university has 60 members of staff.

Police say the gunmen are cornered in one hostel on the campus. They are believed to be holding hostages. One person spotted fleeing the scene has been detained as a possible suspect.

Al Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it deliberately targetted non-Muslims in a raid that “began at 3am”. An official of the terror group interviewed by BBC said the death toll was certain to rise.

“We've killed many people,” he said. “Kenyans will be shocked when they go inside.”