Three stabbed to death in Kenya following police raid mosques

 
Police say they recovered this flag, associated with Islamist militants, in the raids
 

At least three people have been stabbed to death by rampaging youths in the Kenyan city of Mombasa, officials say. The attacks came hours after police raided two mosques they accuse of having links with militant Islamists in neighbouring Somalia. One person was killed in the police raids and more than 200 were arrested. 

Witnesses said masked youths armed with machetes then went on the rampage in the Kisauni area of the city, attacking people waiting at bus stops. Several others were injured in the attacks, which were carried out in apparent revenge for the police action. 'Raids condemned'
 
"We are investigating the incident and have arrested some of the suspects," local police chief Richard Ngatia said.

 
Police displayed some of what they say they recovered in the mosque raids, including grenades 

Some of the youths were reported to be carrying black flags similar to one recovered in the raids on the Musa and Sakinah mosques. Police said they had also seized a pistol and a cache of ammunition, including grenades, in the raids. They say the mosques have links with the Somali militant Islamist group, al-Shabab, and have been used to recruit and train militants and store weapons. 

 

Muslim clerics and human rights groups have condemned the raids, which they say will only reinforce feelings that police are targeting the entire Muslim community in Mombasa, a coastal city which is a popular tourist destination.

Mombasa County commissioner Nelson Marwa said three people had been killed by the rampaging youth. Relatives and hospital staff reported four deaths.

In February, a similar raid at the Musa mosque led to violent protests. The mosque was once controlled by the radical cleric Sheikh Abud Rogo, who was killed in 2012. 

There have been a number of bombings and shootings in Mombasa since 2011 when Kenyan troops entered Somalia to attack al-Shabab.