Somali-linked Islamist militants killed at least 15 people and torched houses in a second night of attacks on Kenya’s coast, a day after an assault on a town left almost 50 dead.
Armed men went door to door hours before dawn in Poromoko village, ordered people outside and made them recite the Islamic creed, said one witness. He did not see what happened to anyone who failed.
Somalia’s al Shabaab militants claimed responsibility for the two days of attacks and said it would continue its campaign in the east African nation, whose tourist industry has been battered by a rise in militant violence.
The militant group has said it is punishing Kenya for sending troops to Somalia to confront its Islamist fighters.
Sunday’s assault on the town of Mpeketoni was the worst since al Shabaab gunmen stormed Nairobi’s Westgate shopping mall in September, leaving 67 dead.
The new attacks have fuelled mounting public criticism of the government for failing to do more to prevent a string of grenade and gun attacks on the coast and the capital since Westgate.
Al Shabaab on Monday declared Kenya a “war zone”, telling tourists to leave the country or stay “at their own peril”.
Kenya has said it would not withdraw its forces from Somalia and has promised to track down the gunmen.
reuters
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