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Gikomba bombings

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2014 Gikomba explosions
Part of terrorism in Kenya
LocationNairobi, Kenya
Coordinates1°17′11.5″S 36°50′29.9″E / 1.286528°S 36.841639°E / -1.286528; 36.841639
Date16 May 2014 (2014-05-16) (East Africa Time)
Attack type
Explosion
WeaponsImprovised explosive devices
Deathsat least 12[1]
Injured70 (but possibly as many as 76)[2]
Map
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400m
440yds
Attack location
OpenStreetMap view of attack location

On 16 May 2014, two improvised explosive devices were detonated simultaneously[3] in the Gikomba market in Nairobi, Kenya, killing at least 12 people and injuring 70.[4][5] The first blast came from a minibus and the second from within the market.[1] Two people were reportedly arrested at the site of the explosions.[6] Shortly after the attacks, hundreds of people swarmed onto the crime scene despite police efforts to stop them.[1]

Background

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Shortly before the blasts, 400 British holidaymakers had been evacuated from Mombasa, the country's second largest city, due to the British Foreign Office declaring an "unacceptably high" threat level.[4] The day before the blasts, the United States had also issued a similar warning, which stated: "The U.S. government continues to receive information about potential terrorist threats aimed at U.S., Western, and Kenyan interests in Kenya, including the Nairobi area and the coastal cities of Mombasa and Diani."[3] It had also said that their embassy in Kenya was going to increase its security in the week preceding the bombings. Uhuru Kenyatta, the president of Kenya, dismissed these warnings, saying they "strengthen the will of terrorists" and that terrorism is a problem in many other countries as well.[7] In the week prior to the blasts, Kenya's government required all bus passengers to be screened before boarding buses and required all buses have clear glass windows.[8]

Reactions

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Uhuru Kenyatta, the President of Kenya, reacted to the explosions by saying that "All of us around the world must be united to ensure that we are able to fight this particular terror."[6] Kenya's government, convinced that the perpetrators were Somalian terrorists, reacted to the attacks by rounding up thousands of immigrants, refugees and members of Kenya's large Somali community.[9]

Flight cancellations

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The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has advised against all but essential travel to Mombasa Island off Kenya's coast. Thomson Airways and First Choice Airways cancelled all their flights to Mombasa until the end of October, citing the FCO's advice.[4]

Economic impact

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After the Gikomba explosions, which were the latest in a long line of attacks occurring in Kenya in recent months, the value of the Kenyan shilling decreased by 0.2% that day.[10]

United States Embassy

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The United States Department of State announced on the day of the bombings that it was planning on reducing the number of staff it would employ at its embassies in Kenya.[5]

Perpetrator

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While no one has claimed responsibility for the attacks, Kenyatta stated that terrorists were responsible.[1] Suspicions have, in particular, fallen on Somalia-based terrorist group al-Shabaab, since they were responsible for several previous terrorist attacks in Kenya due to Kenya sending troops to Somalia in 2011.[1] The Gikomba attack occurred two miles from Al-Shabaab's so-called "Little Mogadishu" stronghold in Nairobi.[11]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Nairobi explosions: At least 12 killed, more than 70 wounded in attacks on bus, market". Abc.net.au. 16 May 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  2. ^ Ansari, Azadeh (16 May 2014). "Explosions in Kenya leave at least 10 dead, officials say". CNN. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  3. ^ a b Dixon, Robyn (16 May 2014). "Ten dead, dozens wounded in Kenya attack as British tourists flee". Los Angeles Times. Johannesburg. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  4. ^ a b c Halliday, Josh (16 May 2014). "Nairobi rocked by two deadly explosions". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  5. ^ a b Gridneff & Doya (17 May 2014). "U.S. Reducing Embassy Staff After Nairobi Bombings Leave 12 Dead". Businessweek. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  6. ^ a b "Kenya's Nairobi hit by twin bomb blasts in Gikomba market". BBC News. 16 May 2014. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  7. ^ AP (16 May 2014). "Bombs kills 10, wound 70 in Kenya after new US, UK terror warnings prompt tourist exodus". US News. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  8. ^ Moore, Jack (16 May 2014). "Kenya: 10 Killed by Twin Nairobi Gikomba Market Blasts". International Business Times UK. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  9. ^ Kushkush, Ismail (16 May 2014). "Explosions Kill 10 in Kenya as Western Embassies Warn of Threats". New York Times. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  10. ^ Gridneff & Doya (16 May 2014). "Kenya Police Hunt Bombers After Nairobi Explosions Leave 10 Dead". Bloomberg News. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  11. ^ Moore, Jack (16 May 2014). "Nairobi Gikomba Market Blasts were Close to Al-Shabaab 'Little Mogadishu' Stronghold". International Business Times UK. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
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