NAIROBI, Kenya (KRON) — Joseph Nkaissery, the Interior Minister for Kenya, says that more than 70 people are dead in an attack at a college.
Nkaissery said that an additional 79 were hurt in Thursday’s attack.
Kenya interior minister says there are more than 70 dead in attack on college.
Earlier Thursday, through Twitter, the interior minister said that “Two terrorists have been neutralised in the ongoing operation. Security agencies intensify rescue operation.”
Soon after that tweet, Nkaissery said that 2 more suspected attackers have been killed.
He told reporters that the total number of attackers is still unknown, and security agents are still fighting them at Garissa University College.
Al-Shabab has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Interior Minister Joseph Nkaissery said that most students at the school attacked by al-Shabab gunmen remain unaccounted for, more than 11 hours after the attack started.
Nkaissery said: “Garissa University college has a student population of 815 and about 60 members of teaching staff, as of now we are able to account for 292 students and all the staff.”
Along with the 70 people killed, an unknown number of hostages are being held.
Many students scattered when the attack began at 5:30 a.m.
Nkaissery ordered a dusk to dawn curfew for Garissa and in the nearby counties of Wajir, Tana River and Mandera.
The death toll in this attack now surpasses the 67 who were killed in al-Shabab’s attack on the Westgate Mall in Nairobi in September 2013.