Kenya: Muslims protect Christians in bus attack

A group of Kenyan Muslims, travelling on a bus highjacked by Islamist gunmen on Monday, protected Christian passengers by refusing to be separated from them, the Daily Nation reports. At least two people were injured and one person was killed in the attack which took place near Mandera in northwest Kenya, near the Somali border.

The gunmen fled the scene when they heard the sound of an oncoming lorry.

Local governor Ali Roba told Kenyan media: "They told the militants to kill them together or leave them alone... The locals showed a sense of patriotism and belonging to each other."

The Somali based militant group al-Shabab has said it carried out the attack. In previous incidents, they have separated Muslims from Christians and then killed the Christians. "Through this brave action they prevented a massacre" a spokesman said.