Horror at Garissa
2 April 2015
The world awoke to the horror of learning about the massacre at Garissa University College in northeastern Kenya. Carried out by Somali-based AlShabaab terrorists, the massacre which started with over 700 hostages taken by five masked men claimed 147 lives, and almost a hundred others were injured.
Garissa has been long known for its history of violent attacks from Islamic militants who came in from neighbouring Somalia and the Christian University was an easy target due to its poor security and proximity to the border. Eyewitnesses said the gunmen killed two security guards to gain access into the hostel and headed to a prayer meeting where they killed 22 out of the 27 students who were praying there. Next, they woke the sleeping students up and separated the Christians from the Muslims. The Muslims were released, while the Christians were executed on the spot with their faces to the ground.
At the end of the stand-off which lasted 15 hours, four of the gunmen were killed, while a fifth detonated a suicide vest before he could be shot. Three others were arrested on the campus in connection with the attack, as they tried to make their escape from the scene. The Western media has been criticized for its poor coverage of the attack.
Names of the victims are still being compiled and will be updated as they emerge. Among the slain are:
