Mombasa Christians fear reprisals after police storm mosque

Some Catholic Church leaders in Kenya’s Mombasa region fear revenge attacks by Islamists, after police on Sunday stormed a mosque associated with Somalia’s al-Shabaab terrorists, writes Fredrick Nzwili.

The police raided the Musa Masjid Mosque in Majengo, saying jihadists were carrying out training for new recruits there. At least two people, including one policeman, were killed in the ensuing violent clashes that lasted for several hours. More than 100 people have since been arrested and charged.

The Mombasa Archdiocese vicar general Wilybard Lagho said Christians were concerned that extremists may attack soft targets including churches in revenge. Flags resembling those used by al-Shabaab were hoisted at the mosque. Last September Islamist terrorists slaughtered dozens of men, women and children at Nairobi’s Westgate shopping centre.