Photo: ABC
The death toll in the Garrisa University attack elevated on Friday, reaching to 148, while 19 remained critical and 104 injured, a day after the university came under a gruesome attack by the Somali-based al-Shabaab militants. Kenya is mourning the horrendous killings that took place as the campus of the university was attacked early on Thursday. Amongst those killed, 142 are students and 6 are security personnel’s.
The bodies of the deceased’s were airlifted to Nairobi as Maj Gen (rtd) Nkaissery and Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinett visited Garissa University College. The university, however, has been closed since then, and the four terrorists were killed by the security officials, who began operations soon after the attack came into limelight.
Reportedly, only two guards were guarding the whole campus at the time of the incident and questions are being raised why the security was not heightened.
Kenyan security services are said to have had inputs regarding an attack on a university and warnings were simultaneously issued to institutions to tighten their security. However, no appropriate measures were taken by the institution and only two guards were deployed for the security.
The military, on Friday, airlifted bodies to Nairobi from Garrisa. The flight carried 48 bodies, which were then shifted to a morgue and a centre was opened up from where the parents could ascertain information about their child.
“Families can get the list of students who died in the attack and where to get the bodies. There is a manifest of those who survived, where they are and how they can be linked with their families,” Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia was quoted by Daily Nation as saying. Psychological support and counselling facilities were immediately opened up.
One witness told the BBC she heard the gunman receiving instructions on mobile phones, and speaking in Swahili, an official language in Kenya – raising the possibility the attackers were locals and not from Somalia, al-Shabab’s heartland. 500 students survived the attack and were taken away from the university premises for counselling.
Apparently, most of the killed are females, as the terrorists targeted their hostel.
On Friday, the United Nation condemned the attack on the Garrisa University. The UN’s General Secretary Ban Ki-moon expressed his solidarity with the people and the government and called for those responsible to be “swiftly brought to justice.”
The United States also condemned the attack. President Barack Obama called up Uhuru Kenyatta to express his condolences. He is said to visit Kenya later this year.
Pope Francis condemned the attack and a statement by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin said, “In union with all people of good will throughout the world, His Holiness condemns this act of senseless brutality and prays for a change of heart among its perpetrators.”
Tags: Al-Shabaab Kenya
