Al-Shabaab gunmen take hostages after deadly Kenya university attack World news The Guardian##&&close##&&next##&&prev##&&info-button##&&Close##&&Skip to main content##&&Advertisement##&&sign in##&&subscribe##&&search##&&jobs##&&dating##&&more##&&from the guardian:##&&jobs##&&dating##&&masterclasses##&&join us:##&&membership##&&subscribe##&&change edition:##&&switch to the##&&US##&&edition##&&switch to the##&&AU##&&edition##&&UK edition##&&switch to the##&&US edition##&&switch to the##&&Australia edition##&&The Guardian##&&Winner of the Pulitzer prize##&&home##&&›##&&world##&&›##&&africa##&&middle east##&&europe##&&US##&&americas##&&asia##&&australia##&&home##&&UK##&&election##&&world##&&selected##&&sport##&&football##&&opinion##&&culture##&&economy##&&lifestyle##&&fashion##&&environment##&&tech##&&travel##&&browse##&&all##&&sections##&&close##&&home##&&UK##&&election##&&world##&&selected##&&europe##&&US##&&americas##&&asia##&&australia##&&africa##&&middle east##&&sport##&&football##&&cricket##&&rugby union##&&F1##&&tennis##&&golf##&&cycling##&&boxing##&&racing##&&rugby league##&&US sports##&&football##&&live scores##&&tables##&&competitions##&&results##&&fixtures##&&clubs##&&opinion##&&culture##&&film##&&tv & radio##&&music##&&games##&&books##&&art & design##&&stage##&&classical##&&economy##&&markets##&&companies##&&lifestyle##&&food##&&health & fitness##&&love & sex##&&family##&&women##&&home & garden##&&fashion##&&environment##&&cities##&&development##&&tech##&&travel##&&UK##&&europe##&&US##&&money##&&property##&&savings##&&borrowing##&&careers##&&science##&&education##&&students##&&teacher network##&&media##&&professional networks##&&the observer##&&today's paper##&&editorials and letters##&&obituaries##&&g2##&&weekend##&&the guide##&&saturday review##&&crosswords##&&video##&&Kenya##&&Al-Shabaab gunmen take hostages after deadly Kenya university attack##&&Militants claim to be holding Christian hostages after dawn raid on 
hostels in which they opened fire on students and security guards, 
killing at least people##&&Al-Shabaab gunmen attack university – in pictures##&&Sorry, your browser is unable to play this video.##&&Please install##&&Adobe Flash##&&and try again.
Alternatively##&&upgrade##&&to a modern browser.##&&Play##&&Current Time##&&/##&&Duration Time##&&Remaining Time##&&Stream Type##&&LIVE##&&Loaded##&&:##&&Progress##&&:##&&Fullscreen##&&Mute##&&Playback Rate##&&Subtitles##&&subtitles off##&&Captions##&&captions off##&&Chapters##&&Chapters##&&Embed##&&Embed code##&&More World news videos##&&Alexander Litvinenko 'may have killed himself accidentally'##&&Greek anti-government protesters clash with police in Athens##&&Yemenis 'flee explosions from air strike on Sana’a'##&&Kenyan students protest over response to Garissa university attack##&&Kenyan 
students describe the moment masked gunmen burst into their university 
compound and started firing, killing at least people##&&Murithi Mutiga##&&in Nairobi##&&Thursday April##&&BST##&&Last modified on Tuesday April##&&BST##&&Share on Facebook##&&Share on Twitter##&&Share via Email##&&Share on LinkedIn##&&Share on Google##&&Share on WhatsApp##&&Shares##&&Comments##&&Masked gunmen from Somalia’s al-Shabaab movement claim to be holding 
an unknown number of Kenyan Christians hostage after a dawn raid on a 
university compound that left at least people dead.##&&Al-Shabaab Kenya attack: death toll rises to – live updates##&&Witnesses said attackers shot indiscriminately at students and teachers who had been woken up by the mayhem##&&Read more##&&The attackers stormed into the university shortly after in the 
town of Garissa, about miles from the volatile border with Somalia. 
Kenya’s national disaster operations centre said##&&of the university’s students were accounted for##&&but did not say how many it believed to be still inside.##&&The gunmen were in one of four residential buildings, the interior ministry said.##&&Arnolda Shiundu, a spokesman for the##&&Kenya##&&Red Cross (KRC), told the Guardian that the attackers set off a blast 
at the gate of the university hostels before storming the compound and 
taking hostages.##&&As many as are wounded, according to witnesses. “We have evacuated
 about casualties, most of them with bullet wounds. Four are in a 
critical state and Kenya defence forces personnel have airlifted three 
victims, including two soldiers, to Nairobi,” Shiundu said.##&&A mortuary attendant in Garissa said at least people had been killed.##&&Al-Shabaab##&&claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it had released Muslims while killing some Christians and taking others hostage.##&&“We sorted people out and released the Muslims,” Sheikh Abdiasis Abu 
Musab, al-Shabaab’s military operations spokesman, told Reuters.##&&“There are many dead bodies of Christians inside the building. We are
 also holding many Christians alive. Fighting still goes on inside the 
college.”##&&Kenyan police have offered a bounty for Mohammed Mohamud, 
who they believe is the mastermind of the attack. The Kenyan president, 
Uhuru Kenyatta, said the government has deployed security forces try to 
end the ongoing a hostage situation.##&&Witnesses said the attackers had shot indiscriminately at students 
and teachers who had been woken up by the mayhem. “They are just 
shooting randomly,” Augustine Alanga told the BBC World Service.##&&— #BanKhat (@AlinoorMB)##&&April##&&#BREAKING##&&: Some of students who escaped##&&#Garissa##&&uni college attack report of warzone situation where gunmen stormed & went on killing spree##&&At least students managed to escape to a nearby military facility 
after the initial sounds of gunfire and explosions, the KRC said. 
Witnesses described a scene of carnage with a huge crater left behind 
following the blast at the gate.##&&Collins Wetangula, the vice chairman of the student union, told the 
Associated Press he was preparing to take a shower when he heard 
gunshots coming from Tana dorm, which hosts both men and women. He said 
he locked himself and three roommates in their room.##&&Al-Shabaab gunmen attack university in Kenya – in pictures##&&View gallery##&&“All I could hear were footsteps and gunshots nobody was screaming 
because they thought this would lead the gunmen to know where they are,”
 he said. “The gunmen were saying ‘sisi ni al-Shabaab’ (Swaihi for we 
are al-Shabaab),” Wetangula said.##&&When the gunmen arrived at his dormitory he could hear them opening 
doors and asking if the people who had hidden inside whether they were 
Muslims or Christians.##&&“If you were a Christian you were shot on the spot,” he said. “With each blast of the gun I thought I was going to die.”##&&The gunmen started to shoot rapidly and it was as if there was an exchange of fire, he said.##&&“The next thing, we saw people in military uniform through the window
 of the back of our rooms who identified themselves as the Kenyan 
military,” Wetangula said. The soldiers took him and around others to
 safety.##&&Analysis##&&Al-Shabaab video shows how far it lags behind in 'jihadi draft'##&&Propaganda film is Somali group’s attempt to attract 
extremists and headlines again as Isis and Boko Haram raise stakes in 
terror recruitment and coverage##&&Read more##&&Facebook##&&Twitter##&&Pinterest##&&Students of Garissa University College take shelter in a vehicle after fleeing the attack. Photograph: AP##&&Kenya’s new police chief, Joseph Boinett, who was appointed after the previous police commissioner was forced to retire##&&following a spate of attacks in northern Kenya##&&said in a statement that police were “engaged in an elaborate process of flushing out the gunmen from the hostels”##&&“I urge Kenyans to remain calm as our officers work to make sure that
 the attackers are ejected from the hostel and normalcy returns within 
the shortest time possible.”##&&— Joseph Boinnet (@JBoinnet)##&&April##&&Official report of current status vide Garissa attack. Thank you for your support.##&&pic.twitter.com/I08RUALlFG##&&Kenya has been hit by a series of attacks blamed on al-Shabaab since 
its troops were deployed in Somalia in to tackle the al-Qaida 
affiliate. The UN-backed African Union troops have pushed al-Shabaab 
from virtually all major populated centres in the country but the rebels
 have hit back with a series of terror attacks in##&&Somalia##&&Kenya and Uganda, another country contributing troops.##&&The four-day siege of the Westgate mall in Nairobi in September 
that left dead was the most spectacular al-Shabaab atrocity so far, 
but the north of Kenya, which is primarily settled by Kenyan Somalis, 
has been the scene of a string of attacks, including the##&&massacre of dozens of bus passengers##&&in November.##&&Britain and Australia issued travel advisories warning against all 
travel to the north of Kenya and Coast province last week. The tourism 
industry, the biggest source of employment in Coast, has been seriously 
affected by falling arrival numbers as a result the attacks.##&&Facebook##&&Twitter##&&Pinterest##&&Students gather and watch from a distance outside the Garissa University College. Photograph: AP##&&North-east Kenya is one of the most impoverished parts of the 
country, where residents blame the state for years of marginalisation 
that has made the region an easy target for al-Shabaab operations and 
recruitment.##&&Efforts have been made to reverse the economic depredations in the 
area. The university, opened in is one of the key projects the 
government has rolled out. It has a student population of about 
many of them from other parts of the country.##&&The pattern in other al-Shabaab attacks in recent years has been for the militants to##&&separate Christians from Muslims##&&and kill them at close range.##&&Sorry, your browser is unable to play this video.##&&Advertisement##&&Play##&&Current Time##&&/##&&Duration Time##&&Remaining Time##&&Stream Type##&&LIVE##&&Loaded##&&:##&&Progress##&&:##&&Fullscreen##&&Mute##&&Playback Rate##&&Subtitles##&&subtitles off##&&Captions##&&captions off##&&Chapters##&&Chapters##&&Embed##&&Embed code##&&Facebook##&&Twitter##&&Pinterest##&&My friend the suicide bomber: meet the men recruited to kill – video##&&More news##&&Topics##&&Kenya##&&Somalia##&&Al-Shabaab##&&Africa##&&Middle East and North Africa##&&Share on Facebook##&&Share on Twitter##&&Share via Email##&&Share on LinkedIn##&&Share on Google##&&Share on WhatsApp##&&Advertisement##&&Most popular##&&Kolkata Knight Riders v Mumbai Indians: IPL – as it happened##&&Dzhokhar Tsarnaev found guilty of Boston Marathon bombing##&&Jesus Christ the family man? Why the church won’t buy it##&&Scientists try to answer why Dutch people are so tall##&&Overpopulation, overconsumption – in pictures##&&more on this story##&&Al-Shabaab Kenya attack: death toll rises to – live updates##&&Witnesses said attackers shot indiscriminately at students and teachers who had been woken up by the mayhem##&&6d##&&Al-Shabaab Kenya attack: death toll rises to – live updates##&&Scores dead in al-Shabaab university attack in Kenya##&&Four suspected attackers killed and students out of accounted for, says interior minister##&&6d##&&Scores dead in al-Shabaab university attack in Kenya##&&Analysis##&&Al-Shabaab: from al-Qaida rejects to a fighting force of thousands##&&The group’s latest attack in Kenya, 
it’s 17th in three years, echoes previous atrocities in which 
non-Muslims are singled out for execution or kidnap##&&6d##&&Al-Shabaab: from al-Qaida rejects to a fighting force of thousands##&&Al-Shabaab gunmen attack university in Kenya – in pictures##&&Masked gunmen have stormed a university in Garissa, north-east Kenya, leaving at least people dead and many more injured##&&6d##&&Al-Shabaab gunmen attack university in Kenya – in pictures##&&Al-Shabaab gunmen attack university in Kenya – in pictures##&&6d##&&Al-Shabaab gunmen attack university in Kenya – in pictures##&&My friend the suicide bomber: meet the men recruited to kill – video##&&Feb##&&My friend the suicide bomber: meet the men recruited to kill – video##&&View all comments##&&comments##&&(522)##&&Sign in##&&or##&&create your Guardian account##&&to join the discussion.##&&This discussion is closed for comments.##&&We’re doing some maintenance right now. You can still read comments, but please come back later to add your own.##&&Commenting has been disabled for this account (##&&why?##&&)##&&Order by##&&oldest##&&newest##&&oldest##&&Show##&&All##&&Threads##&&collapsed##&&collapsed##&&expanded##&&unthreaded##&&Loading comments…##&&Trouble loading?##&&23rdturnoff##&&6d ago##&&This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn't abide by our##&&community standards##&&Replies may also be deleted. For more detail see##&&our FAQs##&&artcrit##&&6d ago##&&Religious nut-jobs strike again. What in the world is going on?##&&Reply##&&Pick##&&Report##&&bluearmy##&&artcrit##&&6d ago##&&islamic nut-jobs strike again!!!##&&Reply##&&Pick##&&Report##&&arlcf01##&&artcrit##&&6d ago##&&I wonder why the Muslims students who 
were studying side by side with their Christian peers weren't on a 
murder rampage, seeing as, according to you, Islam is behind this. But 
let's ignore them. They don't fit in to your black & white 
narrative.##&&Hope all the poor innocent students who are still alive make it out unhurt. What a terrible sadistic world we live in.##&&Reply##&&Pick##&&Report##&&Koninklijk##&&arlcf01##&&6d ago##&&You can copy and paste that comment all you want, it's still whataboutery.##&&Reply##&&Pick##&&Report##&&Show more replies##&&Rufio_Renton##&&6d ago##&&Can somebody more au fait with the Guardian style guide explain to me why these are militants and not jihadi extremists?##&&Reply##&&Pick##&&Report##&&bluearmy##&&Rufio_Renton##&&6d ago##&&That would be deemed racist!!##&&Reply##&&Pick##&&Report##&&Koninklijk##&&Rufio_Renton##&&6d ago##&&Reply##&&Pick##&&Report##&&Tricky_Disco##&&Rufio_Renton##&&6d ago##&&Militants is now a reserved term for posh people with Oxbridge degrees who raise awareness about issues via Twitter campaigns.##&&Reply##&&Pick##&&Report##&&Show more replies##&&Koninklijk##&&6d ago##&&Are there no depths to which al-shabaab 
won't sink? Somalia is desperately trying to get back on its feet, and 
they're determined to make Kenyan innocents suffer too. Appalling.##&&Reply##&&Pick##&&Report##&&Guthrum##&&Koninklijk##&&6d ago##&&Stability is their enemy, chaos and 
poverty their biggest recruiting aids. Religion is only a tool. This is 
all about personal power for the leaders of these groups.##&&Reply##&&Pick##&&Report##&&GuardianWizard##&&Koninklijk##&&6d ago##&&I happened to be Somali and live in Kenya
 as well and clearly these people don't represent what I stand for. But 
as long as Isis, Boko Haram, Houthis etc continue what ever they doing, I
 and many more like me will be nothing but scapegoats.##&&Reply##&&Pick##&&Report##&&MCourtney##&&Guthrum##&&6d ago##&&No, religion is their motivation. A 
religion that cannot accept alternative world-views and cannot negotiate
 except through violence.##&&After all, by any measure Sharia states are inferior to the West.##&&Reply##&&Pick##&&Report##&&Show more replies##&&ranelagh75##&&6d ago##&&This is utterly dreadful.##&&Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it had 
released Muslims while killing some Christians and taking others 
hostage.##&&Reading this just makes me sick to my stomach. I cannot 
fathom what sort of world these barbarians live in, where they think it 
is okay to take someone's life because they identify as Christian, or 
Muslim, or anything else.##&&Reply##&&Pick##&&Report##&&23rdturnoff##&&ranelagh75##&&6d ago##&&they think it is okay to take someone's life because they identify as Christian, or Muslim, or anything else.##&&Er.. no, 'Muslim' is OK, but "anything else" is marked for death.##&&Reply##&&Pick##&&Report##&&Snarktopuss##&&23rdturnoff##&&6d ago##&&Yup, they freed the Muslims and 
slaughtered the Christians while shouting Allah Hu Ackbar in order to 
underline the fact that this has nothing to do with Islam.##&&Reply##&&Pick##&&Report##&&poitierslimoges##&&6d ago##&&They are not "militants"##&&If The Guardian offices were to be attacked and your journalists and staff killed, would they be "militants"?##&&They are terrorists, full stop.##&&Reply##&&Pick##&&Report##&&changeisinevitable##&&poitierslimoges##&&6d ago##&&more appropriately religious puritan gangsters##&&Reply##&&Pick##&&Report##&&jeff2015##&&poitierslimoges##&&6d ago##&&This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn't abide by our##&&community standards##&&Replies may also be deleted. For more detail see##&&our FAQs##&&jeff2015##&&poitierslimoges##&&6d ago##&&If The Guardian offices were to be attacked##&&As if that would ever happen##&&Reply##&&Pick##&&Report##&&Show more reply##&&CarpetEater##&&6d ago##&&Yes, how many times can a man turn his head##&&Pretending he just doesn't see ?##&&The answer my friend is blowin' in the wind##&&The answer is blowin' in the wind.##&&Reply##&&Pick##&&Report##&&marlojay##&&6d ago##&&This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn't abide by our##&&community standards##&&Replies may also be deleted. For more detail see##&&our FAQs##&&F H Dar##&&6d ago##&&Clear evidence that 'NE Region/ Northern 
Frontier District', has never been a part of the old British 'Kenya 
Colony', or 'Independent Kenya'.##&&Its mainly Somali natives have never
 fully accepted being detached from Greater Somalia to act like a buffer
 zone for 'Kenya' ,since Europe's notorious "Scramble for Africa" 
Remember the resistance put up by 'The Mad Mullah'?##&&Reply##&&Pick##&&Report##&&Sobieski2014##&&F H Dar##&&6d ago##&&So, in short, it's Britain's fault.##&&Somehow, I knew it would be.##&&All Britain's fault and nothing to do with Islam.##&&Reply##&&Pick##&&Report##&&MMGALIAS##&&Sobieski2014##&&6d ago##&&All Britain's fault and nothing to do with Islam.##&&Why are there so many posters on the Guardian who struggle with basic comprehension?##&&When did the poster above blame Britain?##&&Reply##&&Pick##&&Report##&&JezabellaBlewitt##&&MMGALIAS##&&6d ago##&&I guess the phrase "since Europe's 
notorious "Scramble for Africa"" and talk of British colonialism kind of
 makes that point. You're right, it could just be a misunderstanding, 
that may not be the point that FH Dar was making, but it's 
understandable if that's what people think.##&&Reply##&&Pick##&&Report##&&Show more replies##&&poitierslimoges##&&6d ago##&&This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn't abide by our##&&community standards##&&Replies may also be deleted. For more detail see##&&our FAQs##&&unpleasantmilk##&&6d ago##&&This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn't abide by our##&&community standards##&&Replies may also be deleted. For more detail see##&&our FAQs##&&stuartMilan##&&6d ago##&&ahh, can you just feel the tolerance?##&&Reply##&&Pick##&&Report##&&Nada89##&&stuartMilan##&&6d ago##&&al-Shabaab - intolerant ?##&&I thought it was western democracies who are intolerant?##&&At least 
thats the message being pumped out by certain sections of the left wing 
commentariat whenever a disaffected young Jihadi buys a one way ticket 
to the caliphate.##&&Reply##&&Pick##&&Report##&&delphinia##&&Nada89##&&6d ago##&&Really? Where?##&&Reply##&&Pick##&&Report##&&Nada89##&&delphinia##&&6d ago##&&Where? - well, lets with the daily mantra
 on Graun discussion boards that everything that ever has happened or 
will happen is simply a bi-product of US foreign policy.##&&And that the
 violence, while regrettable has somehow been brought upon ourselves 
because of the war, or because of the experience of some muslims in 
Europe, especially those who feel their religious outlook is not 
afforded sufficient respect.##&&At the heart of it (in my opinion) is a near steadfast refusal by 
sections of the left commentariat to look critically at the relationship
 between doctrine and actions.##&&In fact until recently any such 
criticism was swiftly removed from certain discussion boards because it 
did not fit with the prescribed narrative - to a certain extent there 
may have been a lack of comprehension regarding the form such violence 
took (murdering children, suicide bombers, kidnapping large groups of 
women, gunning down cartoonists, etc).##&&The latest appalling yet unsurprising incident makes it increasingly 
obvious that the time to tackle this ideology head on is long overdue, 
and liberal self loathing should not get in the way of this task.##&&Reply##&&Pick##&&Report##&&JaneThomas##&&6d ago##&&This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn't abide by our##&&community standards##&&Replies may also be deleted. For more detail see##&&our FAQs##&&Nada89##&&6d ago##&&Horrible - but I'll bet nobody is surprised?##&&Certain groups, and individuals who buy into their violent ideology 
seem to be in a terrorist competition for the most revolting act of the 
year award - it won't be an easy one to call given targets have ranged 
from schoolchildren and young women to cartoonists and now christian 
students.##&&Reply##&&Pick##&&Report##&&turkanaboy##&&6d ago##&&The sooner Kenya fully secures its 
boarder with Somalia the better. The mooted fence is one option, but 
maybe AP mines could be considered given the need for a rapid solution? 
(Ducks for cover....)##&&Reply##&&Pick##&&Report##&&lentoon##&&turkanaboy##&&6d ago##&&I just can't see it working.##&&Ejok! by the way. Spent a lot of time out in Turkana.##&&Reply##&&Pick##&&Report##&&paulofchester##&&turkanaboy##&&6d ago##&&I am with lentoon, just can't see it working, a border that size.##&&Reply##&&Pick##&&Report##&&SolarDeathRayTower##&&turkanaboy##&&6d ago##&&but maybe AP mines could be considered given the need for a rapid solution?##&&Might be a bit difficult, maybe they shouldn't have signed and 
ratified the Ottawa Treaty, outlawing AP mines. Not to mention the 
technical difficulties in mining a border that long, and the fact that 
if al-whatever have people who regularly use them then there's a good 
chance that you'd be providing them with a readily available supply of 
explosives (on a defuse-and-take-away basis).##&&Reply##&&Pick##&&Report##&&Show more replies##&&BlackStar57##&&6d ago##&&This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn't abide by our##&&community standards##&&Replies may also be deleted. For more detail see##&&our FAQs##&&AndyH90125##&&6d ago##&&Guardian - The apologists for Islamic terrorism !##&&Reply##&&Pick##&&Report##&&paulofchester##&&AndyH90125##&&6d ago##&&Pardon??????? Can you give us an example?##&&Reply##&&Pick##&&Report##&&lentoon##&&AndyH90125##&&6d ago##&&The situation between Al-Shabab and Kenya
 is significantly more complicated than Islamic terrorism vs Everyone 
else, it's got a hell of a long history stretching back to 
pre-independence. Its well worth understanding the context - as this 
article attempts to do - to understand the conflict.##&&Reply##&&Pick##&&Report##&&Mike Young##&&paulofchester##&&6d ago##&&If you read the Guardian regularly you would have lots of examples.##&&Reply##&&Pick##&&Report##&&Show more replies##&&lentoon##&&6d ago##&&There's a lot of disaffected Somali 
refugees living in Kenya at the moment, and a hazy border where groups 
can be Kenyan or Somalian (depending on who's asking). Al Shabab is 
growing stronger and bolder in attacking, and Kenyan reprisals, while 
better than the historical record Kenya has in dealing with Somalian 
terrorists, are poorly targeted and fairly arbitrary.##&&While fundamentalist Islam is the religion and belief system of the 
terrorists here, it should be seen in a much, much wider and longer 
history of Kenya/Somalia border tension, conflict and mutual violence.##&&Sadly I can only see this conflict escalating.##&&Reply##&&Pick##&&Report##&&discobedient##&&6d ago##&&This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn't abide by our##&&community standards##&&Replies may also be deleted. For more detail see##&&our FAQs##&&Spillage93##&&6d ago##&&I can't help but feel that the conflict 
with militant Islamism is rapidly becoming the defining conflict of this
 generation, yet still there are people who try to downplay it, or 
pretend that if we ignore it it might just go away.##&&It won't go away. We in the civilised world (and that includes the 
majority of the world's Muslims) need to recognise that collectively a 
lot of time and a lot of money is going to have to be spent defeating 
it. The consequences for shying away from this fight are dire.##&&Reply##&&Pick##&&Report##&&SoberThirdThought##&&Spillage93##&&6d ago##&&I don't see anyone shying away from a 
fight. But a "fight" like this is never going to be won with bombs and 
invading other countries. It was precisely the illegal invasion of Iraq 
by the US that created the conditions for the rise of IS, for example. 
And after more than a decade of war in Afghanistan, in which millions of
 people were killed, the Taliban is stronger than ever. It is precisely 
the West's war-mongering and hypocritical preaching to the world that is
 fueling Islamic fundamentalism worldwide.##&&Reply##&&Pick##&&Report##&&Spillage93##&&SoberThirdThought##&&6d ago##&&I'm afraid this simply isn't true. The 
Taliban is not 'stronger than ever' in Afghanistan. It used to run the 
country; it has now been weakened to the point that it was unable to 
disrupt last year's presidential election, the turnout of which was high
 despite Taliban threats. The Taliban has, in other words, been both 
weakened by the military campaign against it and overwhelmingly 
repudiated by the population of Afghanistan.##&&Islamism is essentially a fascist ideology and consequently war with 
it is inevitable. I'll use the Taliban again as an example, who would 
surely have brought war to Afghanistan no matter what - indeed, Iran was
 almost moved to invade in the 1990s following##&&this incident.##&&We can't shy away from this; as I say, fail to meet a group like IS with a military response and they aren't going to go away.##&&In any case, your final point is a nonsense. Western warmongering is 
what motivates Al-Shabaab to enter a Kenyan University and massacre 
Christians? How, exactly? For all its crimes, the United States can 
hardly be held accountable for a mad group's attempts to wipe out 
Christianity in East Africa. This kind of thinking is in danger of at 
best excusing and at worst legitimising the actions of Islamists. It 
does their victims, past and future, a massive disservice.##&&Reply##&&Pick##&&Report##&&inthelightoffacts##&&Spillage93##&&6d ago##&&This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn't abide by our##&&community standards##&&Replies may also be deleted. For more detail see##&&our FAQs##&&VolstedGridban##&&6d ago##&&This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn't abide by our##&&community standards##&&Replies may also be deleted. For more detail see##&&our FAQs##&&Albatros18##&&6d ago##&&when you get in bed with the US and 
become a foot soldier for them, there is no way you will find peace: 
just like the rest of the foot soldiers of Africa. Kenya, Nigeria, 
Egypt, Libya, these countries will never find peace as long as they keep
 those corrupt servants of Washington.##&&Reply##&&Pick##&&Report##&&JaneThomas##&&Albatros18##&&6d ago##&&So you condone this behaviour, it seems. It is all the fault of everyone else except the perpetrators.##&&Reply##&&Pick##&&Report##&&Trumbledon##&&Albatros18##&&6d ago##&&What evidence do you have that any of the
 Christians taken hostage by these death-worshiping fascists had got 
into bed with the US?##&&Reply##&&Pick##&&Report##&&fink1976##&&Albatros18##&&6d ago##&&So it's America's fault that terrorists 
went into a university, separated the Muslims and Christians and started
 killing the Christians?##&&Have some backbone and put the blame where it lies for God's sake.##&&Reply##&&Pick##&&Report##&&Show more replies##&&siletz##&&6d ago##&&Hopefully, the Kenyan police and military
 units responding to this crisis can do better than the dreadful 
response to the Westgate massacre. That was a massive debacle and farce 
that took days to resolve, and even now, it's unclear if any of the 
Westgate gunmen survived. They may have.##&&Reply##&&Pick##&&Report##&&JaneThomas##&&6d ago##&&A mortuary attendant in Garissa said at least people had been 
killed. Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it had 
released Muslims while killing some Christians and taking others 
hostage.##&&“We sorted people out and released the Muslims,” Sheikh Abdiasis Abu
 Musab, al-Shabaab’s military operations spokesman, told Reuters.##&&“There are many dead bodies of Christians inside the building. We 
are also holding many Christians alive. Fighting still goes on inside 
the college.”##&&Don't mention the gorilla in the room. Ayaan Hirsi Ali could quite 
clearly explain this series of events, except it might offend the 
sensibilities of those who wish to overturn the very document that all 
our human rights rest upon- The Universal Declaration of Human Rights.##&&It is time to speak up for non-Muslims.##&&Reply##&&Pick##&&Report##&&MMGALIAS##&&JaneThomas##&&6d ago##&&Ayaan Hirsi Ali##&&The women who got thrown out of the Netherlands for lying about her past you mean?##&&Reply##&&Pick##&&Report##&&lentoon##&&JaneThomas##&&6d ago##&&Believe me, the Kenyan government will 
launch some kind of violent response as soon as it possibly can, don't 
be alarmed. The Gorilla in the room is very much present, you're talking
 about Al-Shabab, a well known Islamic terrorist group.##&&Noone is trying to hide the fact that this is Islamic terrorism, at 
all. It doesn't need to be said when it's Al Shabab for christssake.##&&"Time to speak up for non-Muslims" - Britain and the US and Kenya 
have been doing that with bombs and bullets and machetes for about 
years, remember?##&&Is that what you want?##&&A bloody reprisal? A purge?##&&Some kind of action that will produce ever more difficulties, provoke ever more violence?##&&Reply##&&Pick##&&Report##&&fink1976##&&MMGALIAS##&&6d ago##&&Yep, shoot the messenger why don't you.##&&Reply##&&Pick##&&Report##&&Show more replies##&&changeisinevitable##&&6d ago##&&there is a difference from religious puritan gangsters and the rest of the sheep who attend church/temple/synagogue/mosque.##&&Reply##&&Pick##&&Report##&&Malfunction##&&changeisinevitable##&&6d ago##&&Perhaps, but how come we never see mass 
demonstrations by those sheep saying 'not in my name' when these 
atrocities occur? They're happening every day now, and soon we will 
become immune to their impact. It will be just a case of 'Oh it's 
Islamic terrorists slaughtering yet more innocent victims. So, what's 
new?'##&&Reply##&&Pick##&&Report##&&Close report comment form##&&Please select##&&Personal abuse##&&Off topic##&&Legal issue##&&Trolling##&&Hate speech##&&Offensive/Threatening language##&&Copyright##&&Spam##&&Other##&&Reason (optional)##&&Email (optional)##&&Report##&&View more comments##&&Hide comment##&&Your comments are currently being pre-moderated (##&&why?##&&)##&&Post your comment##&&Preview##&&Hide preview##&&Cancel##&&B##&&i##&&”##&&Link##&&popular##&&More stories from around the web##&&Promoted content by Outbrain##&&Signs That Most Americans Are Flat Broke And Totally Unprepared For The…##&&TalkMarkets##&&Can Putin Survive?##&&TalkMarkets##&&Bataille de Tikrit : la fausse photo des forces spéciales irakiennes##&&France##&&"Nous voilà bien barrés" ces Syriens qui rient à la barbe des jihadistes##&&France##&&Soviet Sniper: The Deadliest Woman in WWII##&&OZY##&&Saudi Arabia Gets a Little Less Sexist##&&OZY##&&Signs That Most Americans Are Flat Broke And Totally Unprepared For The…##&&TalkMarkets##&&Can Putin Survive?##&&TalkMarkets##&&Bataille de Tikrit : la fausse photo des forces spéciales irakiennes##&&France##&&"Nous voilà bien barrés" ces Syriens qui rient à la barbe des jihadistes##&&France##&&Soviet Sniper: The Deadliest Woman in WWII##&&OZY##&&Saudi Arabia Gets a Little Less Sexist##&&OZY##&&Recommended by##&&The Guardian##&&back to top##&&home##&&UK##&&election##&&world##&&selected##&&sport##&&football##&&opinion##&&culture##&&economy##&&lifestyle##&&fashion##&&environment##&&tech##&&travel##&&all##&&sections##&&close##&&home##&&UK##&&election##&&world##&&selected##&&europe##&&US##&&americas##&&asia##&&australia##&&africa##&&middle east##&&sport##&&football##&&cricket##&&rugby union##&&F1##&&tennis##&&golf##&&cycling##&&boxing##&&racing##&&rugby league##&&US sports##&&football##&&live scores##&&tables##&&competitions##&&results##&&fixtures##&&clubs##&&opinion##&&culture##&&film##&&tv & radio##&&music##&&games##&&books##&&art & design##&&stage##&&classical##&&economy##&&markets##&&companies##&&lifestyle##&&food##&&health & fitness##&&love & sex##&&family##&&women##&&home & garden##&&fashion##&&environment##&&cities##&&development##&&tech##&&travel##&&UK##&&europe##&&US##&&money##&&property##&&savings##&&borrowing##&&careers##&&science##&&education##&&students##&&teacher network##&&media##&&professional networks##&&the observer##&&today's paper##&&editorials and letters##&&obituaries##&&g2##&&weekend##&&the guide##&&saturday review##&&crosswords##&&video##&&World##&&›##&&Kenya##&&membership##&&jobs##&&dating##&&masterclasses##&&subscribe##&&all topics##&&all contributors##&&about us##&&contact us##&&complaints & corrections##&&terms & conditions##&&privacy policy##&&cookie policy##&&securedrop##&&Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved.##&&Share on Twitter##&&Share via Email