Kenyan leader warns rogue imams; militants vow 'bloodbath'

Jessica Estepa | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Al-Shabab threatens 'bloodbath' after Kenya attack Kenyan officials say multiple arrests have been made in connection with the deadly terror attack at Garissa University College. Al-Shabab, the Somali-based group claiming responsibility, has issued a warning for the country.

GARISSA, Kenya — Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, speaking only hours after militants threatened another "bloodbath," warned Saturday of harsh measures against anyone who assists terrorists or helps spread radicalism, particularly Islamic religious schools and rogue imams in mosques.

His remarks came just hours after the Somalia-based militant group al-Shabab, which has claimed responsibility for the killings at Garissa University College on Thursday, threatened another "bloodbath" in Kenyan cities.

In his nationwide TV address, Kenyatta said it was "time to be honest with ourselves," about the source of radicalism that breeds terrorism.

"(It) is not conducted in the bush at night, but it occurs in the full glare of day in the homes, madrassas (Islamic religious schools) and in mosques with rogue imams," Kenyatta said. "We must ask the question — where are the parents and families of those who are being radicalized?"

He said the government's fight against terrorism "is made more difficult by the fact that the planners and financiers of this brutality are deeply embedded in our communities and were seen previously as ordinary, harmless people."

"We will not allow them to continue their life as normal," he warned. "The full force of the law will be brought to bear with even greater intensity than has been the case in previous years."

Gunmen kill scores at university in Kenya Al-Shabab gunmen stormed a university in northeastern Kenya at dawn Thursday, killing scores of people in the group's bloodiest attack in the East African country.

By focusing on religious radicalism, Kenyatta avoided claims by al-Shabab that their attacks were in response to Kenya sending troops into Somalia beginning in 2011 to fight militants.

His remarks came on the heels of an announcement by the Interior Ministry that five people have now been arrested in connection with the Girassa siege. Interior Ministry spokesman Mwenda Njoka said on Twitter that three of the suspects were picked up trying to cross into Somalia.

He said the three are associates of Mohamed Mohamud, also known as Dulyadin Gamadhere, a former teacher at a Kenyan Madrassa Islamic school who authorities say coordinated the attack on Garissa University College.

Kenyan authorities have put a $220,000 bounty for information leading to Gamadhere's arrest.

Interior Minister Joseph Nkasseiry said four terrorists had also been killed by an anti-terror police unit in Mombasa and four others arrested while planning to attack a mall in Nyali. Those arrested were being interrogated, he said.

The arrests came as al-Shabab, in a statement released Saturday, claimed responsibility for the Garissa killings and threatened more attacks.

"For as long as your government persists in its path of oppression, implements repressive policies and continues with the systematic persecution against innocent Muslims, our attacks will also continue," the statement said. "No amount of precaution or safety measures will be able to guarantee your safety, thwart another attack or prevent another bloodbath from occurring in your cities."

The veracity of the statement has not been confirmed, though Kenyan military officials were treating it as legitimate.

A curfew has been imposed for two weeks on Garissa and three neighboring counties as security forces hunt for additional suspects tied to the attack. The latest arrests followed an appealed by the government for help in capturing nine men, described as "bloodthirsty, armed and dangerous."

Some residents of Garissa said the heavily armed Kenyan troops were overly zealous in rooting out al-Shabab terrorists who have claimed responsibility for the attacks.

"It's not safe here for us as residents," said Abdikadir Adolwa. "The soldiers are whipping residents to force them to identify terrorists. The military have terrorized this area and we fear going to the streets of the town."

Many residents who could stay outside the town opted to leave while the troops were present.

"They're arresting people who have no national identity cards," said Nathar Abdkir Balza, a mother of five, who owns a hotel in Garissa. "You can be arrested for loitering."

Ethnic Somalis especially have deserted the area.

"The Somalis like miraa but they are now afraid to come to town and buy it," said Kevin Kariuki, who sells miraa, or khat, an African plant that has slightly intoxicating effects when chewed.

As authorities swept the area, survivors of the assault on the university surfaced to describe their ordeal.

Kenyan survivors recount university attack Survivors of Thursday's al-Shabab attack at Garissa University recount how they survived the deadly attack that claimed 148 lives, Kenya's worst terror incident in years. (April 4) AP

"I will never go back to Garissa, I witnessed a lot," said Buffin Cheruiyot, 22, a student at Garissa University who was shot twice on his leg as he tried to fight the militants. "They killed over 20 close friends of mine as I watched. I tried to fight them and they shot me twice on my left leg.

"I know God loves me a lot that's why I survived. They were four gunmen and they said they will kill all Christians to ensure our soldiers in Somalia stop killing their children. When I heard that, I confronted them and sneaked through the back door of the hostel," he said.

Cheruiyot has not spoken to his family since the attack occurred. He's shocked, and he can't even remember his parents' phone number.

He is currently being taken care of by the Kenya Red Cross Society at Nyayo Stadium, where parents greeted their children returning from the university Saturday.

Another survivor, second-year student Brenda Kwamboka, 22, said the attack happened when she had just left the lecture room for the bathroom.

"I had woken up early in the morning for morning preps," she said. I was preparing for exams and I had to read. When I had just left the lecture room for a short break, I heard sounds of gunfire. I didn't come back. I locked the bathroom door and hid inside. I heard my fellow students crying and pleading with terrorists to forgive them as gunshots sounded all over."

"I heard one of the student saying, don't kill me, I'm a Muslim -- but she was shot immediately as gunmen shouted at her, 'wee kafiri,'" referring to a person who does not believe in Allah.

"I also heard them addressing students in Kiswahili (a local language) saying they've come to revenge what their soldiers are doing in Somalia.

Brenda said she heard terrorists saying: "We've come to kill you, especially Christians because we are not afraid to die. Allah says we should fight for religion.

Families gathered at Chiromo mortuary in Nairobi to mourn those killed in the attack, while others continued to desperately search for their loved ones.

"I want my son. I need to know where he is and where he went," said Jane Kemunto, who has not heard from her son since the attack Thursday morning. "My son is neither in the list of survivors nor dead."

Kemunto said she will sue the government for information if she doesn't receive any. "The government will be held responsible for the loss of my son," she said. "If they cannot protect students in schools, they should produce their corpses."

Contributing: Jabeen Bhatti, Associated Press. Stanglin reported from McLean, Va.