A group of Muslim jihadist attackers who on
Monday stormed a bus in Kenya were prevented from attacking Christian
passengers on board by a group of Kenyan Muslims, the BBC has reported.
According to the report, the gunmen were
said to have ambushed the bus, attempting to divide those on board based on the
passengers’ religious affiliations. However, the Muslim passengers reportedly
refused to split. At least two people were killed.
Speaking to members of the Kenyan press, a
local government official said Muslim passengers on board the Makka bus line
told the terrorists “to kill them together or leave them alone,” according to
Kenyan news outlet the Standard. Following the terror attack, Kenya’s Interior
Cabinet Secretary, Joseph Nkaissery, praised the Kenyan citizens who risked
their lives in the attempt to protect the non-Muslims passengers.
Nkaissery said, “We commend the Muslims who
stood by the Christians when the gang attacked.
“They showed the terrorists cannot separate
us using religion. They cannot cause a religious war and I thank the passengers
and locals,” he added.
Nkaissery said that the terrorists were
able to carry out the attack, in part, due to a police escort vehicle that
broke down.
“The drivers decided to proceed with their
journeys without a police escort,” he said, according to the Standard.
“It is unfortunate at least two died.”
The bus was en route from the Kenyan
capital city of Nairobi traveling to the northern city of Mandera, near the
Somali boarder at the time of the attack, the BBC reported. Al-Shabaab, a
terror group with roots in Somali is suspected to be responsible for the
attack.
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