Nairobi: Death toll in the attack by Somali Islamists on Garissa University College -- a university in northeastern Kenya on Thursday, rose to 147 as the siege ended and all four terrorists were killed, the country`s disaster response agency said.
"UPDATE: 147 fatalities confirmed in the Garissa Attack," The Kenya National Disaster Operation Centre (NDOC) said on its official Twitter feed, adding that the operation had ended.
UPDATE: 147 fatalities confirmed in the Garissa Attack. Plans are underway to evacuate students and other affected persons.
— Disaster Operations (@NDOCKenya) April 2, 2015
Confirming that the operation at Garissa University College had ended, NDOC tweeted: " The operation at Garissa University College has ended, with all four terrorists killed."
U{PDATE: The operation at Garissa University College has ended, with all four terrorists killed.
— Disaster Operations (@NDOCKenya) April 2, 2015
#GarissaAttack update: Alshabab siege ends, 587 evacuated, 79 injured.
— InteriorCNG Ministry (@InteriorKE) April 2, 2015
The Kenya National Disaster Operation Centre also informed that 587 students had been evacuated from Garissa University College of which 79 were injured. All students had been accounted for.
587 students have been evacuated from Garissa University College, 79 injured. All students have been accounted for.
— Disaster Operations (@NDOCKenya) April 2, 2015
The Al Shabaab terror group, which has links to the Al Qaeda network, has claimed responsibility for the 5.30 a.m. raid, saying it was holding many Christian hostages inside.
"We have killed many people and Kenyans will be shocked when they get inside," they said in their radio station.
The attack started at dawn from the mosque inside the campus where the attackers shot at worshippers indiscriminately.
Students who escaped the gunfire said there were at least four or five attackers.
Local security officials said there had been threats on the institutions there from terror groups.
"We had the threats earlier and had alerted the institutions here," a security official said.
There has been heightened security around the country, particularly along the border, with security agencies at an unprecedented state of alert amid latest reports that the Al Shabaab has planned attacks against Kenya in protest over Nairobi sending troops to southern Somalia.
(With Agency Inputs)
