NAIROBI, Kenya - Islamic terrorist gunmen killed two policemen guarding a church, snatched their rifles and then opened fire on the congregation with bullets and grenades on [July 1, 2012,] killing at least 10 people and wounding at least 40, security officials said.
Terrorists from Somalia were immediately suspected.
Police commander Philip Ndolo said the bloodiest attack was on the African Inland Church in Garissa, a town some 195 kilometers (120 miles) west of the Somali border.
Attackers threw two grenades inside the church, only one of which exploded, Ndolo said. But as the congregation stampeded out of the church, gunmen opened fire, doing significantly more damage. Ten people died and about 37 were wounded at the church, Ndolo said.
Another security official, though, said that two attackers walked up to the two policemen guarding the church, shot them at point-blank range and took their rifles.
The gunmen then opened fire on the church and threw the grenades. The official spoke only on condition he wasn't identified because he is not allowed to speak to media.
The police were guarding the church because of the perilous security situation near the border with Somalia and because Somalia's Islamist militants have made Christian churches a common target.
Deadly Sunday for church in Kenya (OneNewsNow.com)
Terrorists from Somalia were immediately suspected.
Police commander Philip Ndolo said the bloodiest attack was on the African Inland Church in Garissa, a town some 195 kilometers (120 miles) west of the Somali border.
Attackers threw two grenades inside the church, only one of which exploded, Ndolo said. But as the congregation stampeded out of the church, gunmen opened fire, doing significantly more damage. Ten people died and about 37 were wounded at the church, Ndolo said.
Another security official, though, said that two attackers walked up to the two policemen guarding the church, shot them at point-blank range and took their rifles.
The gunmen then opened fire on the church and threw the grenades. The official spoke only on condition he wasn't identified because he is not allowed to speak to media.
The police were guarding the church because of the perilous security situation near the border with Somalia and because Somalia's Islamist militants have made Christian churches a common target.
Deadly Sunday for church in Kenya (OneNewsNow.com)
