Terrorists storms Garissa University College in Kenya; 15 dead, hostages taken

Al Shabaab claims Kenyan university attack 

 

(CNN)Latest developments:

-- 6:22 a.m. ET: At least 15 people have been killed by gunmen who attacked a Kenyan university Thursday, officials said, according to CNN affiliate Citizen TV. The officials said 550 people are still unaccounted for at the campus that had about 815 students.

-- 6:22 a.m. ET: The officials said one terrorist has been arrested as he tried to slip through the security cordon and flee the scene.

-- 5:35 a.m. ET: At least 65 people are hospitalized from the attack, the Kenyan Red Cross said.

Full story:

A swarm of gunmen stormed a Kenya university before dawn Thursday, firing indiscriminately and taking hostages.

At least 15 people have been killed, security and interior ministry officials said, according to CNN affiliate Citizen TV. The officials said 550 people are unaccounted for at the campus that had about 815 students.

At least 65 people were hospitalized from the attack at Garissa University College, the Kenyan Red Cross said.

The Somali-based Al-Shabaab militant group claimed responsibility. The security and ministry officials said one terrorist was arrested as he tried to slip through the security cordon and flee the scene.

By 1 p.m. local time (6 a.m. ET), eight hours after the attack began, the fight to regain control of the university continued. Kenyan forces cleared three of four dormitories and had cornered the militants in the last one, the interior ministry said.

Garissa is about 145 kilometers (90 miles) from the border with Somalia. Al-Shabaab militants have often launched attacks inside Kenya ever since the Kenyan government sent troops across the border to fight the group .

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