By BosNewsLife Africa Service
NAIROBI, KENYA (BosNewsLife)– Suspected Islamic militants threw a grenade killing two Christians and injuring over 30 in the Kenyan city, Mtwapa, a Christians and rights activists confirmed Tuesday April 3.
The Christians were holding an outdoor worship service at the time of the attack, said advocacy group International Christian Concern (ICC) which has been in contact with local believers.
A simultaneous bomb attack was also carried out on a bar in the nearby city of Mombasa, shortly after the March 31 attack, the group added.
“Three people who were sitting in a parked car near the site of the event threw a grenade and drove away. Then I heard a blast and saw some women down, crying for help,” recalled Reverend Simon Kirariuki Kimami, a pastor with the Kenyan Assembly of God, in a statement distributed by ICC. “A lady died on the spot. About 15 people were seriously wounded. Two days after the blast, a young boy died from the injuries,” said the pastor.
Over 150 Christians were attending the outdoor service where the attack took place, Christians said. Muslims were also holding a meeting 900 feet (300 meters) from the scene of the attack, according to ICC investigators.
ISLAMIC PREACHERS
The Islamic preachers were allegedly vilifying Christianity in their sermon which could be heard from the location where the Christians were holding their gathering. Kenyan officials blame members of the radical Islamic group, Al-Shabaab, for the bomb attacks.
Al-Shabaab has been carrying out attacks in Kenya after the government sent its troops to fight the Islamic group in neighboring Somalia. There was no known claim of responsibility Tuesday, April 3. “My message to Christians around the world is to be steadfast in serving and honoring the Lord Jesus Christ, even in the face of persecution and sometimes violent attacks,” said Patrick Muchiri a pastor with the Mombasa Pentecostal Church in a statement.
[I urge Christians] not to retaliate. [Rather] they should show love even when they are attacked,” he added. ICC’s Regional Manager for Africa, Jonathan Racho, said his group was “deeply concerned about the bomb attack targeting innocent Christians.” He said ICC has urged Kenya “to protect its citizens from the growing attacks of the radical Islamists.”
The Islamic preachers were allegedly vilifying Christianity in their sermon which could be heard from the location where the Christians were holding their gathering. Kenyan officials blame members of the radical Islamic group, Al-Shabaab, for the bomb attacks.
SEVERAL ATTACKS
Al-Shabaab has been carrying out attacks in Kenya after the government sent its troops to fight the Islamic group in neighboring Somalia.
There was no known claim of responsibility Tuesday, April 3.
“My message to Christians around the world is to be steadfast in serving and honoring the Lord Jesus Christ, even in the face of persecution and sometimes violent attacks,” said Patrick Muchiri a pastor with the Mombasa Pentecostal Church in a statement. [I urge Christians] not to retaliate. [Rather] they should show love even when they are attacked,” he added.
ICC’s Regional Manager for Africa, Jonathan Racho, said his group was “deeply concerned about the bomb attack targeting innocent Christians.” He said ICC has urged Kenya “to protect its citizens from the growing attacks of the radical Islamists.”
