MASS ATTACK ON MALINDI CASINO LEAVES 8 DEAD, SEVERAL INJURED
Suspected members of the banned MRC, a coastal terrorist group seeking to break away from the Republic of Kenya and form their own radical Islamic state, attacked an Italian owned casino last night in the wee hours.
According to a source in Malindi were six of the attackers killed by security forces alerted from guards and guests, though two policemen sadly also died in the hail of bullets flying.
The source was unable to confirm if any of the guests of the casino were injured, though from other sources in Mombasa the word is that at least some were harmed when the machete and gun wielding thugs stormed the premises. A police spokesperson in Mombasa, some 100 kilometres south of Malindi, stated that about 50 suspected MRC members were involved in the raid.
There was immediate suspicion among the mainly Italian expatriates living in Malindi, that the attempt to rob and kill was aimed to grab a large sum of money to finance the terror group’s activities and previous shootings of two Italians during past weeks are now also being looked upon once again in the context of MRC targeted violence.
A major policy and security operation is reportedly underway, combing the entire coast for suspected MRC members though the group has been in the cross hairs of Kenya’s security organs for a while now and several of the outlawed group’s leaders are already in custody awaiting trial.
Kenya’s tourism industry is undergoing a challenging period as a result of economic hard times in key European markets but Malindi, with this negative publicity, appears now double hard hit, now also under scrutiny for the two past shootings of Italians and now this major incident, so shortly before Easter, when in particular a major culture festival is due to be held in Malindi for which thousands of Kenyans are expected to visit the coastal town.
One regular tourism source from Mombasa was unwilling to comment, only saying; ‘Yes we heard the news but need more information before we can comment. This looks like a big thing and we need to consult first about the implications with our colleagues in Malindi. We need to get the fact right first’.
Watch this space for updates as and when they become available.
2 Responses
The MRC has not been known to call for the establishment of a radical Islamic state. Its issues are purely localized and have to do with land, jobs, marginalization, etc.
True, they have not CALLED for it openly but there are strong indications of their links with similar radical movements on Zanzibar. Oh yes, and the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt are choir boys and will not stop alcohol and bikinis in Egypt ? You see the links, once they are there, it is going to happen …
Thanks for reading my blog.
W.