At least 10 people have been killed in a new attack by Islamist militants near Kenya’s coastal town of Mpeketoni.
The tourist board in London confirmed the last night gunmen raided Majembeni Village, a rural farming community about 20kms from the Kenya coast and 64kms south of Mokowe where holidaymakers take a boat to Lamu Island.
"Majembeni Village has no international tourist facilities and no tourist were involved in the incident," it said.
"Lamu Island, one of Kenya’s primary tourist resorts, is in no way affected by this attack and neither is any other part of the Kenya coast.
"The majority of visitors travelling to Lamu arrive by air into the local airport."
Somalia’s al-Shabab group said it had carried out the latest attack, telling Reuters that its "operations in Kenya will continue" in response to Kenyan troops in Somalia and the killing of Muslims.
"We raided villages around Mpeketoni again last night," al-Shabab spokesman Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab told Reuters. He said most of those killed were police officers and wildlife wardens.
He was later quoted saying that the militants "have been going to several places looking for military personnel". Mpeketoni is on the mainland near Lamu island, a well-known tourist resort. But the town itself is not a tourist destination.
The tourism board expressed "sincere condolences" to those affected.
On Sunday, at least 48 people are believed to have been killed after terrorists ransacked a town close to Mpeketoni, firing on bars and cafes packed with people watching the World Cup on televsion. Two guest houses were also set on fire.
