The terror group Al-Shabaab has taken responsibility for an ongoing attack at Garissa University in Kenya with reports of over a dozen dead, 65 people hospitalized and an unknown number of hostages currently held captive at the school.
— 5:35 a.m. ET: At least 65 people are hospitalized from the attack, the Kenyan Red Cross said.
— 5:39 a.m. ET: Local Kenyan media are reporting death tolls ranging from eight to 15. CNN has not been able to independently confirm the number.
— 4:56 a.m. ET: There are normally 800 students in the dormitories when school is in session, the university’s dean of students, Jackstone Kweyu, told Citizen TV. There are 1,000 staff members on a normal work day, Kweyu said. And there are usually four guards at the campus gates overnight.
And there are reports that the terrorists are targeting Christians specifically:
Photos from the scene:
Updates to follow.
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Update 6:48 a.m.:
Update 12:45 p.m. Death toll climbs to 70:
Update 2:38 p.m.:
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Editor’s note: additional tweets have been added to this post.