Al-Shabaab Attacks Kenyan University during Morning Prayers, 15 Dead

Carrie Dedrick | Updated: Apr 02, 2015

Al-Shabaab Attacks Kenyan University during Morning Prayers, 15 Dead

Gunmen opened fire on a Kenyan university Thursday morning, killing at least 15 people. CNN reports the attack occurred at Garissa University College near Nairobi. 

The terrorist group al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack which took police eight hours to control. 

According to reports, the attack occurred during morning Christian prayers at the university. A witness said the militants seemed to be targeting non-Muslims with gunfire.

The witness said militants took hostages from the prayer service, then "proceeded to the hostels, shooting anybody they came across except their fellows, the Muslims."

Some hostages were released, but 550 people remained unaccounted for at 8:00 a.m. ET. The university enrolls 815 students total. An update at 9:46 a.m. from the Kenya National Disaster Operation Center said that all university staff had been accounted for and were “helping with the tracking of students.” 

The Christian Post reports 65 people were wounded in the attack, some of which had to be airlifted to the nearest hospital for immediate treatment. 

A Garissa hospital doctor told Reuters, “We have 49 casualties so far, all with bullet and (shrapnel) wounds.” 

Publication date: April 2, 2015



Al-Shabaab Attacks Kenyan University during Morning Prayers, 15 Dead