Shabaab beheads nine civilians in Kenyan village

Al Shabaab extremists from neighbouring Somalia beheaded nine civilians in an early-morning attack on a village in the southeast, Kenyan officials said on Saturday, as concerns grew that the group had taken up a bloody new strategy.

The attack occurred in Jima village in Lamu County, said James Ole Serian, who leads a task force of security agencies combating Al Shabaab.

Beheadings by Al Shabaab have been rare in Kenya, where the extremist group has carried out dozens of deadly attacks over the years.

The Al Qaeda-linked Al Shabaab has vowed retribution on Kenya for sending troops in 2011 to Somalia to fight the group, which last year became the deadliest extremist group in Africa.

Saturday’s attack occurred in the Pandaguo area, where Al Shabaab fighters engaged security agencies in a day-long battle three days ago.

A police report says about 15 Al Shabaab fighters on Saturday attacked Jima village and seized men, killing them with knives.

Al Shabaab in recent months also has increased attacks with homemade bombs, killing at least 46 in Lamu and Mandera counties.

The increase in attacks presents a huge problem for Kenya’s security agencies ahead of the Aug.8 presidential election, said security analyst and former US Marine Andrew Franklin.

On election day security agencies will be strained while attempting stop any possible violence and Al Shabaab could take advantage, he said.