ATLEAST four worshippers were killed, and 17 injured following a gun attack by suspected alshabab militant at a church in Likoni area in Mombasa on yesterday.
Police said three armed gunmen stormed Joy Jesus Church and opened fire indiscriminately at worshipers killing two on the spot while two others succumbed to their injuries while undergoing treatment in different hospitals. Three minors were among those in critical condition.
Last week police intercepted a car mounted with explosives powerful enough to bring down a 10-storey building. Two suspects were charged in court. Last evening police pursuing the atackers who have been liked to terror group Al-Shabab
Last month police battled with youth at Mosque where they recovered an Al shabab flag and literature used to radicalise muslim youth
Dr Khadija Shikely, the Mombasa county Director of Health confirmed that 17 people were undergoing treatment at the Coast General Hospital while one of the victims succumbed at the facility, and another, who was the assistant pastor, succumbed at Likoni health district hospital.
The injured who sustained serious gun injuries were transferred to Coast General hospital for specialized treatment with fears that the death toll may rise because some of them had life threatening injuries.
Likoni police boss Robert Murethi said the gunmen forceful their way into the church using the rear door before they indiscriminately open fire at worshippers around 10.30 am.
"They stormed the church as worshippers were preparing for the morning service and started shooting randomly killing two on the spot among them a lady," said Murethi. They then mingled with residents and vanished on foot.
Police said the gunmen had attempted to attack another church, JCC Likoni almost 100 meters but were repulsed by two regular police officers who were guarding the church. They fired several shots to disperse locals before escaping to a residential area.
The church that had over 200 worshippers was sealed off by detectives from the scene of crime and guarded by GSU officers as police dusted for evidence.
More police officers were deployed to the area but no arrest was made by Sunday afternoon. Police from the scene of crime recovered 27 spent cartridges fired from an Ak 47 inside the church. Atleast 8 cartridges were collected from the alter.
The gunmen dropped 30 rounds of ammunition and a pistol wrapped in a box as they fled the scene. "I heard gunshots and immediately they started shooting at us those who attempted to escape were shot from behind," said Benson Okoth.
Okoth said his wife was among those shot in the abdomen as she scampered for safety. Police believe the alshabab returnees are residing within Majengo area in Likoni and could have been responsible for the attack. Last year the gunmen attempted to blow up British tourist van in Likoni using a hand grenade that failed to detonate.
On Saturday, Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Ole Lenku assured Kenyans that security had been beefed up in the coastal city and other parts of the country. Mvita MPAbdulswamad Sharif Nassir visited the church and condemned the attack.
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