Militant attack on Kenyan university kills 147

A woman is rescued out of a building where she had been held hostage in a deadly militant atttack at a university in Kenya. / Yonhap

A militant group attacked a university in Kenya early Thursday, killing 147.

The group, identified as the Somali’s al-Shabab, stormed the dormitory at Garissa University College at around 5:30 a.m., local time, shooting students and taking others hostage. Some 80 people were injured.

The siege ended after 15 hours, with four of the attackers killed by Kenyan commandos. Reports say they may have been up to 10 gunmen in the group.

Most of the students were sleeping at the time, and fled as they were awakened by the sounds of gunshots.

The gunmen reportedly separated students who identified themselves as Christians and shot them on the spot.

The Shabab had staged an attack on Kenya’s most luxurious mall in 2013, leaving 67 dead. It is known as the most violent unit of Al Qaeda.