On Tuesday night three gunmen armed with AK47s abducted an Italian woman from Chakama, in Kenya’s coastal region of Kilifi. Another woman and four children were injured in the attack that occurred around 8pm at the Chakama trading centre.
The 23-year-old woman was volunteering for the NGO Africa Milele Onlus. In a post on its website, the group said “There are no words to comment on what is happening. Silvia, we are all with you.”
Italian media has identified the woman as Silvia Costanza Romano. The town is about 80km inland from Malindi, a major tourist destination.
A witness told Reuters that, “the attackers had clothes of Somali origin … they spoke in Somali,” – with the implication being that al Shabaab are responsible for the abduction. This has not yet been confirmed by other sources.
The Evening Standard reports that –
An unidentified witness told Kenyan TV channel KTN News: “The European lady got out of her room, instead of lying on the ground, to enquire what was going on. One of the attackers then slapped her.”
“Their aim was to get money but they took off with her to the river and, before leaving the village, they started shooting in the air and they shot one woman and four boys,” the witness said.
The National Police Service wishes to inform the public that last evening at about 8pm, a gang of men armed with AK 47 rifles attacked Chakama Trading centre in Chakama, Makongeni sub location in Kilifi county, about 80 kilometres west of Malindi town. 1/6
— National Police Service-Kenya (@NPSOfficial_KE) November 21, 2018
The attackers fired indiscriminately at residents injuring the following:
(1) Samini Garama Dadu, aged 23 years was shot on the left side of the neck and is in serious condition.
(2) Ibrahim Said, aged 16 years was shot on the left knee and his condition is stable. 2/6
— National Police Service-Kenya (@NPSOfficial_KE) November 21, 2018
(3) Elias Mwaringa Kathua, aged 12 yrs was shot on the left thigh, his condition is stable.
(4) Mohamed Kalume Konde,aged 10yrs was shot on the left eye, his condition stable.
(5) Mang Katana Jeffa, aged 20yrs was shot on the right thigh, his condition stable. 3/6
— National Police Service-Kenya (@NPSOfficial_KE) November 21, 2018
The Gang then abducted an Italian lady aged 23 years who is a volunteer of Africa Milele Onlus, an NGO operating in the area.
All the injured persons were taken to hospital and contingents of police officers were deployed to track down the criminals. 4/6
— National Police Service-Kenya (@NPSOfficial_KE) November 21, 2018
Neither the reasons for the attack nor the identity of the attackers have been established.
Meanwhile, we appeal to members of the public in the area to report promptly to the nearest Police Officer or Police Station should they sight the criminals with the abducted lady. 5/6
— National Police Service-Kenya (@NPSOfficial_KE) November 21, 2018
We assure the public that we are sparing no effort in tracking down the criminals and rescue the victim. 6/6
— National Police Service-Kenya (@NPSOfficial_KE) November 21, 2018
Sources
- Evening Standard: Italian volunteer kidnapped by gunmen and five others injured during terrifying coastal raid in Kenya
- The Guardian: Italian aid worker kidnapped by gunmen in Kenya
- BBC News: Gunmen abduct Italian aid worker in Kenya
- Reuters: Kenyan police say gunmen kidnap Italian volunteer, wound five in trading center attack
- Reuters: Gunmen who abducted Italian near Kenya coast seemed to be of Somali origin, witness says
- The Independent: Chakama attack: Italian aid worker kidnapped by heavily armed gunmen in south-east Kenya
- Deutsche Welle: Italian volunteer kidnapped by gunmen in Kenya
- Al Jazeera: Kenya: Gunmen kidnap Italian woman, wound five along coast
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