A police source in Lamu county (east), bordering Somalia, where Al Shabab (Arabic for “The Youth”) has its headquarters, told reporters that some of the dead had their throats slit.

The attackers, around 20 to 30 in number, were armed with machetes; some had rifles, but did not shoot the victims, preferring to slit their throats, according to the official testimony.

After massacring the victims, the Islamists looted local food stores and houses.

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