16 dead, 50 injured in twin Garissa church attacks
A map of Garissa town which is 140 kilometres (85 miles) from the border with war-torn Somalia. Photo/GOOGLEMAP
By NATION REPORTER
Posted Sunday, July 1 2012 at 10:55
Posted Sunday, July 1 2012 at 10:55
Two police officers are among 16 people killed in two simultaneous attacks in Garissa when masked gunmen sprayed bullets and hurled grenades at Catholic's Central Cathedral and AIC churches, Kenya Red Cross say.
According to North Eastern Deputy PPO, Philip Ndolo, the gunmen attacked and killed two police officers on duty and took their firearms before raiding the churches.
He said AIC church suffered more casualties as it accounts for most deaths and at least 50 injured persons resulting from gunshot wounds.
Catholic's Central Cathedral had three casualties from a grenade attack.
The dead include two police officers, four men, eight women and two children.
An eye witness who was attending a service at AIC church, Mr Dennis Nzioki said they heard noises from the rooftop of falling objects.
"We heard something like stones being thrown on top of the roof, then, we realised that we were being shot at," he said.
Another eye witness Felix Kimanzi said the masked gunmen wearing blue uniforms sprayed bullets at the congregation of the AIC church resulting in the deaths and the high number of casualties.
He also said two grenades were hurled but only one exploded.
"I was 100 metres away from the church when I saw two gunmen at the entrance spray bullets at the congregation. I hid from their sight," he said.
"They were joined by two more gunmen in blue uniforms who hurled grenades and they all fled on foot," he added.
The casualties have been admitted at Garissa Provincial General Hospital.
Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka condemned Sunday's church attacks noting that they were religious places for worship.
“Places of worship including churches, temples and mosques among others should be respected, it is unfortunate that two police officers assigned at the church were shot and killed,” said VP Musyoka.
Supreme Council of Kenya (Supkem) national chairman Prof Abdulghafur El-Busaidy condemned the attacks saying that places of worship should be respected by all.
“We detest such acts and as Supkem we are condemning the act from the bottom of our hearts,” Prof El-Busaidy said.
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