Nairobi, April 2 (IANS) At least two people were killed and four injured as suspected Al-Shabaab militants on Thursday attacked a college at Garissa in Kenya.
Kenya’s National Disaster Operations Centre said the government has mobilised security troops, including Kenya Defence Force (KDF), who are at the scene to engage the masked gunmen suspected to be Al-Shabaab militants, Xinhua reported.
There are fears of mass casualties as gunmen are still holed up in the compound, the centre said.
“The security forces have cornered the gunmen in one dormitory. They are not allowing anyone inside the compound and have taken control,” Hamza Yusuf, a student, said.
Official reports said over 30 students have fled to safety while others who escaped with injuries are receiving treatment for gunshot wounds.
The Kenya Red Cross and other humanitarian organisations are the at scene to help in the rescue services.
Ismail Abdikadir, an activist based in Garissa, said the gunmen went into the college posing as worshippers for morning prayers.
“There were many students who were for the morning prayers. There could be many casualties,” Abdikadir said.
The attack started from the mosque inside the campus where the attackers shot at worshippers indiscriminately.
Students who escaped the gunfire said there were at least five attackers. Many other students and teachers were still being held hostage.
Local security officials said there had been threats on the institutions there from terror group.
“We had the threats earlier and had alerted the institutions here,” a security official said.