Two killed in grenade attack on Christian meeting in Kenya

Compass Direct News is reporting that an 8-year-old boy died on Tuesday from injuries after suspected Islamic extremists threw a grenade into a Christian revival meeting near Kenya's coastal town of Mombasa.

The grenade instantly killed a woman and injured at least 30 people in the attack on Saturday.

According to Compass Direct, Kenyan Internal Security Minister George Saitoti said Islamic extremists from the rebel al Shabaab militia in Somalia were suspected of carrying out the deadly blast, although the group has not claimed responsibility.

"The government, which began military operations against al Shabaab in Somalia last October, today issued a warning of a possible attack by al Shabaab during Easter celebrations in Kenya this weekend," said CDN.

The meeting, organised by the Mtwapa Pastors' Fellowship, brought together 500 Christians from 16 denominations at the Kandara event site in Kilifi County, around 10 miles from Mombasa.

It began on Friday and had been due to conclude on Sunday.

"Someone inside a moving Nissan vehicle threw a hand grenade towards the podium where the preaching pastor, the Rev Daniel Mwendwa of the Miracle in the Village Church, was ministering, and there was a group of singers close by," said eyewitness Harrison Tembo Chome, pastor of the Holy Jerusalem Church. "Everything came to a standstill. There was wailing and immediately the police, the army and ambulances arrived."

Three people have been arrested in relation to the explosion, but it was not clear what relation they had with al Shabaab, if any.

The attack comes after attacks and kidnappings in the area and elsewhere last year prompted the Kenyan military to strike at al Shabaab targets in Somalia.

With estimates of al Shabaab's size ranging from 3,000 to 7,000, the insurgents seek to impose a strict version of Sharia (Islamic law) on Somalia, but the government in Mogadishu fighting to retain control of the country treats Christians little better than the al Shabaab extremists do. While proclaiming himself a moderate, President Sheikh Sharif Sheik Ahmed has embraced a version of sharia that mandates the death penalty for those who leave Islam.