At least eight people were on Sunday wounded in an explosion at an Administration Police church in Garissa Town.
Witnesses and police say the explosion occurred after what is believed to be either a motor or grenade landed in the church as the congregation was in prayers.
Among the wounded is the Utawala Interdenominational Church pastor who police say is in critical condition.
Four of the injured were set to be flown to Nairobi for treatment.
Police on the ground have cited witnesses saying the explosion was thrown from outside and penetrated the iron sheets of the church before landing inside.
“It is believed to be a motor thrown or a grenade because it penetrated the roof before landing within the crowd. There is confusion,” said a police officer who was at the scene.
There was more confusion after a man who is believed to be part of the attackers tried to shoot into the church from a distance.
Witnesses say other AP officers who were there hit back by shooting at him before he vanished into the town. Other officers joined in a gunfire that lasted several minutes.
Police have been mobilized in the town to hunt down the attackers who many believe are followers of Somalia’s Al-Shabaab militants.
North Eastern police boss Philip Tuimur says no arrest has been made so far but a major operation was underway in the town.
The incident came days after a police officer was shot dead by unknown assailants on Tuesday. A second officer who was wounded has been flown to Nairobi where he is receiving treatment.
Police said the officers were attacked on Tuesday night as they walked to duty by attackers who escaped on foot. No arrest has been made.
The attacks are part of a series that have occurred since Kenyan troops crossed to Somalia to hunt the militants who had been blamed for several insecurity related incidents.
Source: The Standard
Witnesses and police say the explosion occurred after what is believed to be either a motor or grenade landed in the church as the congregation was in prayers.
Among the wounded is the Utawala Interdenominational Church pastor who police say is in critical condition.
Four of the injured were set to be flown to Nairobi for treatment.
Police on the ground have cited witnesses saying the explosion was thrown from outside and penetrated the iron sheets of the church before landing inside.
“It is believed to be a motor thrown or a grenade because it penetrated the roof before landing within the crowd. There is confusion,” said a police officer who was at the scene.
There was more confusion after a man who is believed to be part of the attackers tried to shoot into the church from a distance.
Witnesses say other AP officers who were there hit back by shooting at him before he vanished into the town. Other officers joined in a gunfire that lasted several minutes.
Police have been mobilized in the town to hunt down the attackers who many believe are followers of Somalia’s Al-Shabaab militants.
North Eastern police boss Philip Tuimur says no arrest has been made so far but a major operation was underway in the town.
The incident came days after a police officer was shot dead by unknown assailants on Tuesday. A second officer who was wounded has been flown to Nairobi where he is receiving treatment.
Police said the officers were attacked on Tuesday night as they walked to duty by attackers who escaped on foot. No arrest has been made.
The attacks are part of a series that have occurred since Kenyan troops crossed to Somalia to hunt the militants who had been blamed for several insecurity related incidents.
Source: The Standard
