15 dead, 50 injured in twin Garissa church attacks

Two police officers are among 15 people killed in two simultaneous attacks in Garissa when masked gunmen sprayed bullets and hurled grenades at Catholic's Central Cathedral and AIC churches, police say.

Kenya Redcross Secretary General, Abbas Gullet told NTV on Sunday afternoon that 15 people had been confirmed dead. He spoke while at Nairobi's Wilson Airport to arrange for doctors to be flown to Garissa to assist the overwhelmed workforce at Garissa Provincial General Hospital where the casualties were admitted.

According to North Eastern Deputy PPO, Philip Ndolo, the gunmen attacked and killed two police officers on duty and took their firearms before raiding the churches.

He said AIC church suffered more casualties as it accounts for eight dead and at least 50 injured persons resulting from gunshot wounds.

The dead include two police officers.

Catholic's Central Cathedral had three casualties from a grenade attack.

An eye witness who was attending a service at AIC church, Mr Dennis Nzioki said they heard noises from the rooftop of falling objects.

"We heard something like stones being thrown on top of the roof, then, we realised that we were being shot at," he said.

Another eye witness Felix Kimanzi said the masked gunmen wearing blue uniforms sprayed bullets at the congregation of the AIC church resulting in the deaths and the high number of casualties.

He also said two grenades were hurled but only one exploded.

"I was 100 metres away from the church when I saw two gunmen at the entrance spray bullets at the congregation. I hid from their sight," he said.

"They were joined by two more gunmen in blue uniforms who hurled grenades and they all fled on foot," he added.

The casualties have been admitted at Garissa Provincial General Hospital.