NAIROBIĀ (Reuters) – At least four people were killed on Friday in two explosions in the Kenyan capitalĀ Nairobi, theĀ National Disaster Operations CentreĀ (NDOC) said.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility. In the past such attacks have been widely blamed on the Somali Islamist militant group al Shabaab, which wants Kenyan troops out ofĀ SomaliaĀ and in September killed 67 people in an attack on aĀ NairobiĀ shopping mall.
“Two explosions reported. First blast was from a 14-seater matatu (minibus), second blast within Gikomba Market. Four fatalities,” NDOC said on Twitter.
The blasts came shortly afterĀ KenyaĀ rebuked Britain, theĀ United States,Ā FranceĀ andĀ AustraliaĀ for issuing travel warnings about the country and hundreds of tourists began leaving resorts along theĀ Indian OceanĀ coast.
Jared Ojuk,Ā Kenya’s deputy police spokesman, toldĀ Reuters policeĀ suspected the blasts were caused by an improvised explosive device (IED).
“Very many people are injured. I don’t know how many are dead but for sure there are fatalities,” Mwangi Maina, a trader selling second-hand shoes at Gikomba Market, said.
Kenya Red CrossĀ said more than 10 people were hospitalised.
“Terrorism is not an evil that was born inĀ Kenya. Terrorism is a worldwide phenomenon,” PresidentĀ Uhuru KenyattaĀ told a previously planned news conference that took place shortly after the blasts.
