At least four people were stabbed to death Monday night by suspected radical Muslim youth protesting police raids on two mosques in the coastal city of Mombasa, the police said Tuesday.
Kisauni divisional police commander Richard Ngatia said the radical youth, who were armed with crude weapons, stabbed the four to death and injured several others who are now receiving treatment at a private hospital in Kisauni.
Ngatia said more than 20 youth have been arrested, following the skirmishes which followed security raids on Masjid Shuhaad and Sakina mosques early Monday.
"We have contained the situation and managed to arrest several youth. We have deployed enough police personnel to restore law and order in the area," Ngatia told Xinhua.
The local police commander said anti-riot police officers were able to disperse the youth who attacked motorists and passersby. He said they were yet to establish the number of people who were killed during the riots by the youth.
According to the police, one person said to be a pastor died on the spot after he was stabbed in the neck by one member of the rowdy youth Monday night. Sources at the scene said three other bodies were removed by police. The police will release the latest death toll later Tuesday.
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The latest incident comes after one man was shot dead during the raid Monday after he attempted to hurl a hand grenade at police officers during the raid on the two mosques which the police said were being used to store crude weapons.
During the raid, the police recovered a pistol, eight grenades and a flag associated with the Somlaia-based Al Shabaab terrorist group at the mosques and other dangerous weapons.
Meanwhile, one of the youth suspected to be behind the series of killings in Mombasa, whose photos were released by the police, surrendered himself to the authorities.
The National Intelligence Service has warned of more attacks by homegrown terror groups, who have been blamed for the killing of moderate Muslims and perceived state informers in Mombasa county.
The latest report warns of more violent extremist attacks by well-trained and dangerous Al Shabaab returnees who live in Kisauni and Majengo residential estates in Mombasa.
The latest incident comes in the wake of increasing cases of radicalisation of Muslim youths in the coastal region. The police said they are monitoring the radicalised youths implicated in several attacks, including killing of Muslim clerics.