Kenya terror attack: Mombasa police shoot dead three women dressed in burqas
'While being questioned by officers, one drew a knife and the other threw a petrol bomb'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Three women dressed in burqas have been shot dead by police after launching a stabbing attack at a police station on the Kenyan coast.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, in which two Mombasa policemen were wounded.
But Kenya is one of the leading countries in a coalition fighting against the Al-Shabaab Islamist group in neighbouring Somalia and faces a constant threat of retaliatory attacks.
Speaking at the scene, Mombasa County Police Commander Patterson Maelo told reporters the women had walked into the station on the pretence of reporting a stolen mobile phone.
"While being questioned by officers, one drew a knife and the other threw a petrol bomb at the officers. The station caught fire," he said.
"Police shot the three and killed them. Two officers are in hospital with wounds. Presumably it is a terror attack."
Salma Mohamed, a witness who was at the station to see a relative in custody, said one attacker had jumped onto a counter and stabbed an officer in the thigh before being shot.
Mombasa on the coast of Kenya, a city which has a large Muslim population, has been targeted by Islamist militants in recent years, although the frequency of attacks have subsided.
Al-Shabaab was behind an attack on Nairobi's Westgate shopping mall, in which 67 people died, and a raid on Garissa University in the northeast, in which 148 were killed. The militants also launched several attacks in 2014 that left more than 100 dead in Lamu County region.
Additional reporting by agencies
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments