MOMBASA: At least 26 people were killed when some 50 insurgents flying black flags swept into a Kenyan coastal town firing guns in an unprecedented attack, a local government official said on Monday.
'So far we have collected over 26 bodies and taken them to the mortuary, but we are still looking for more,' Benson Maisori, deputy commissioner for the district, told AFP.
Gun battles began Sunday evening and continued into the early hours of Monday morning, but by dawn, the town of Mpeketoni was reported calm.
The insurgents were reported to have been from Somalia's al Qaeda-linked Shebab.
'There were around 50 attackers, heavily armed in three vehicles, and they were flying the Shebab flag,' Maisori added, speaking from the town, where several buildings including hotels, restaurants, banks and government offices were razed to the ground.
Cafes and bars were reportedly packed with people watching the World Cup on television when the gunmen attacked.
The town of Mpeketoni, a trading centre on the main coastal road, lies on the mainland some 30 kilometres (20 miles) southwest of Lamu island, a popular tourist destination whose ancient architecture is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Kenyan army spokesman Major Emmanuel Chirchir described how the gunmen had stormed the town, overwhelming local police officers, and firing from vehicles 'shooting people around in town'.
Chirchir also said the attackers were 'likely to be Al-Shebab,' although there was no immediate claim of responsiblity.
Attackers tried to storm a police post including an armoury, but Maisori said officers had defended the building and fought the gunmen off.
Entities 0 Name: Shebab Count: 2 1 Name: Mpeketoni Count: 2 2 Name: Maisori Count: 2 3 Name: Chirchir Count: 1 4 Name: Emmanuel Chirchir Count: 1 5 Name: Somalia Count: 1 6 Name: Lamu Count: 1 7 Name: MOMBASA Count: 1 8 Name: UNESCO World Heritage Count: 1 9 Name: AFP Count: 1 10 Name: Benson Maisori Count: 1 Related 0 Url: http://ift.tt/1hYh8lQ Title: Islamists massacre dozens in Kenya Description: At least 48 people have died after al-Qaeda-linked militants attacked hotels and a police station in a Kenyan coastal town, officials say. Witnesses in Mpeketoni said gun battles lasted several hours, while several buildings were set on fire. The town is on the mainland near Lamu island, a well-known tourist resort.
