Officials say Islamic militants behead 3 in Kenya

Officials say Islamic militants behead 3 in Kenya

Anti-riot policemen beat protesters to disperse them in Mathare, in Nairobi, Kenya,  Aug 9, 2017. In an unrelated case, Kenyan officials say suspected Islamic militants have beheaded three people and burnt houses along the Indian Ocean coast (Reuters file photo)
Anti-riot policemen beat protesters to disperse them in Mathare, in Nairobi, Kenya, Aug 9, 2017. In an unrelated case, Kenyan officials say suspected Islamic militants have beheaded three people and burnt houses along the Indian Ocean coast (Reuters file photo)

NAIROBI, Kenya -- Kenyan officials say suspected Islamic militants have beheaded three people and burnt houses in an attack along the Indian Ocean coast.

Lamu County Commissioner Gilbert Kitiyo says gunmen believed to al-Shabab militants attacked Maleli village near Witu town.

Beheadings by al-Shabab have been relatively rare in Kenya, where the extremist group has carried out dozens of deadly attacks over the years. The group in July was accused of beheading nine people in another village in Lamu County and has stepped up attacks in East African country in recent weeks.

The al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab has vowed retribution after Kenya sent troops across the border to Somalia in 2011 to fight the group, which last year became the deadliest Islamic extremist group in Africa.

 

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