A police officer was killed while 14 others were injured after a grenade was hurled at a police truck in Kisauni Mombasa Tuesday , as riots over the murder of radical cleric Aboud Rogo spilled over.
Angry youth engaged anti-riot police in running battles for the better part of the day prompting reinforcement from the general service unit [GSU].
The chaotic scenes unfolded even as the Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko directed a special to thoroughly investigate the drive by assassination of the radical cleric.
Panic gripped residents in the coastal town following fears the chaos might escalate into a sectarian conflict owing to attacks on several churches.
However Muslim clerics have condemned the riots terming them as unwarranted bearing in mind the peaceful co-existence between different religions in the coastal town.
Mombasa town and its environs was a no go zone as youth spent the whole day engaging anti riot police in running battles around the town.
A senior police intelligence officer in Mombasa, Benedict Kigen, announced the grenade attack.
“They have attacked our officers…. Two people are dead, one of them is an officer, the other is a civilian,” Reuters news agency quoted him as saying. Sixteen policemen were wounded in the attack,
Police officers had to camp at the Salvation Army Church after the protesters threatened to burn down the church.
The violence escalated in the afternoon when the rioters hurled a grenade at a contingent of the officers in Kisauni.
Nkrumah Road, Nyerere Road, Digo Road, and Moi Avenue were rendered impassable by rioters who had barricaded the roads.
Since the riots erupted Monday more than 5 churches have been attacked in the Coastal City raising fear that the riots might escalate into a religious conflict.
Attacks condemned
Muslim clerics were on the front line appealing to their followers to refrain from divisive tendencies and violence saying burning down places of worship is against the teaching and traditions of Islam.
Coast PC Samson Kilele called on religious leaders to speak to their respective flock to refrain from violence.
He urged individuals with credible information that would lead up to the arrest of those responsible for the assassination of radical cleric Aboud Rogoto to come forward and make reports to the police.
Mr. Kilele reassured Kenyans that the planned Agricultural Society Show would go on as planned and that security personnel are on the ground to ensure that business continued as usual.
His sentiments were further echoed by Bishop Lawrence Dena who called for dialogue to prevail in settling any perceived differences between Christians and muslims.
So far 12 people have been arrested in connection with the mayhem.
Source:https://www.kbc.co.ke/
Policeman Killed in Mombasa Grenade Attack
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