In the early hours of today, members of the Somali terrorist group, al-shabaab, attacked the Garrisa University College in north-east Kenya. The militants have, according to media reports, killed nearly 150 persons and injured over 70. Here is how the attack happened:
According to witnesses, the attack began around 5am, after five masked gunmen stormed the university and began firing indiscriminately. Kenya’s Red Cross put out an alert minutes later.
#Alert: Armed attack at Garissa University College. @EMS_Kenya and #RedCross Garissa team at scene. Updates to follow
— Kenya Red Cross (@KenyaRedCross) April 2, 2015
Media houses began reporting the event moments after:
.@KenyaRedCross officials say two policemen and a student have been injured by the attackers and have been rushed to hospital #GarissaAttack
— NationBreakingNews (@NationBreaking) April 2, 2015
Gunmen storm Kenyan college campus in Garissa: media http://t.co/9TLfHQQiLf — Reuters Top News (@Reuters) April 2, 2015
One witness in Garissa, Kenya: “They started by shooting 2 security guards. They were shooting randomly” #GarissaAttack
— BBC Africa (@BBCAfrica) April 2, 2015
Kenyans took pictures as they fled the scene:
Fear gripping #Garissa as residents are seen running after the morning #GarissaAttack. Authorities calling for calm. pic.twitter.com/mTOCtEozQP — Ahmed Mohamed™ (@asmali77) April 2, 2015
Al-Shabaab gunmen attack university in Kenya – in pictures http://t.co/L5b50bPvUX
— Guardian Africa (@GuardianAfrica) April 2, 2015
Soon after, the security forces confirmed the attack:
Garissa University was attacked early morning. Elite units from Police & KDF have responded. Updates to follow. — Joseph Boinnet (@JBoinnet) April 2, 2015
Official report of current status vide Garissa attack. Thank you for your support. pic.twitter.com/I08RUALlFG — Joseph Boinnet (@JBoinnet) April 2, 2015
Hours into the university siege, the militants had killed over a dozen people and injured dozens others:
VIDEO: At least 14 dead in #Kenya university attack #GarissaAttack http://t.co/33lizyBDhk — Reuters Africa (@ReutersAfrica) April 2, 2015
Gunmen have killed at least 15 people in an attack on a college campus in northeast Kenya: http://t.co/9VrcJNHCr1 pic.twitter.com/w2UsnaJEA0 — CBS News (@CBSNews) April 2, 2015
#Update 65 casualties evacuated to Garissa PGH according to CEC Health Garissa. #GarissaAttack — Kenya Red Cross (@KenyaRedCross) April 2, 2015
al-shabaab confirmed it carried out the attack and had taken non-muslim hostages:
BREAKING: Somali Islamist group al Shabaab claims responsibility for attack on Kenyan university, holding Christians hostage #GarissaAttack — Reuters Africa (@ReutersAfrica) April 2, 2015
“There are many dead bodies of Christians inside the building. We are also holding many Christians alive’- al Shabaab #Kenya #GarissaAttack — Reuters Africa (@ReutersAfrica) April 2, 2015
Security forces eventually came to the rescue:
CS #MajNkaissery: #GarissaAttack update: one suspected terrorist arrested as he tried to flee scene. pic.twitter.com/mmyxukjEYd
— InteriorCNG Ministry (@InteriorKE) April 2, 2015
.@mutigam walks us through the situation at #GarrisaAttack pic.twitter.com/oVcTwzqQt6 http://t.co/PwfvKBN78e LO
— CBC-The Current (@TheCurrentCBC) April 2, 2015
#GarissaAttack reported casualties reach 65 @KenyaRedCross. 535 students unaccounted for, 1 suspect arrested & 15 confirmed killed says govt — Hannah McNeish (@HannahMcNeish) April 2, 2015
Evacuated students from a Kenyan university campus that was stormed by an Islamist group #GarrisaAttack pic.twitter.com/TgYoMF0Uom — Reuters Africa (@ReutersAfrica) April 2, 2015
#GarissaAttack update: Two terrorists have been neutralised in the ongoing operation. Security agencies intensify rescue operation. — InteriorCNG Ministry (@InteriorKE) April 2, 2015
All staff of the Garissa University College have been accounted for and are helping with the tracking of students. — Disaster Operations (@NDOCKenya) April 2, 2015
President @UKenyatta‘s statement on #GarissaAttack pic.twitter.com/ks5aeEjcg6
— Disaster Operations (@NDOCKenya) April 2, 2015
How Kenyans Reacted:
@KenyaRedCross @EMS_Kenya Oh God.. Not again! We can’t take another west Gate! — kananga mnchebere (@mnchebk) April 2, 2015
@KenyaRedCross @EMS_Kenya l let us all pray for garissa university college — lucas wanjala (@lucaswanjala6) April 2, 2015
When i look at this pictures from the #GarrisaAttack i juz cant control my tears.. its so sad!!! Really sad. — Allan Leinz (@AllanLeinz) April 2, 2015
@KenyaRedCross @EMS_Kenya OOh God save our children who are terrified and in shock save them from the hands of those terrorists — MARY NJOSH (@MARYNJOSH2) April 2, 2015
@JulieGichuru No religion allows the killing of innocent people.#GarrisaAttack
— Joseph muiruri (@Joe19utd) April 2, 2015
@kenyaredcross@ems_kenya@k24tv we expected drastic changes in security meassures but this seems an imagination — chryschacha (@chchryschacha) April 2, 2015
.@UKenyatta: We have suffered unnecessarily due to shortage of security personnel. Kenya badly needs additional officers. #GarrisaAttack — Nation FM (@NationFMKe) April 2, 2015
Police in Kenya aren’t really understaffed, their absence in crucial areas is coz govt officials reserve them for themselves #GarrisaAttack
— Mr. B (@Benogola) April 2, 2015
With additional reporting by Tobi Eyinade