Two Britons killed in Somali raid

From The Telegraph

Islamist gunmen have shot dead two Somalia-born Britons in an attack at a school in the east African country.

Insurgents loyal to Al Shabaab, a terrorist group with ties to al-Qa’eda, killed the Britons and two Kenyans at a school in the central Somali town of Baladwayne on Sunday night, local residents said.

A spokesman for the British High Commission in Nairobi said the UK Government is investigating the incident.  “We are aware of the reports and are seeking information,” she said. She could not provide any details about the two British citizens.

One of the British Somalis killed was a female teacher, according to reports.  The other was a British man of Somali origin who had come back to his home to build a school.

“Local people are terrified because people who are involved in educating our people were killed last night,” a local resident, Nur Muse, told the Reuters news agency.

The US State Department describes Al Shabaab - also known as the Mujahedeen Youth Movement -- as “a violent and brutal extremist group with a number of members affiliated with al-Qa'eda.”

The group has become known for raids on Somali towns.

Mohamed Nur Ali, another local resident, said he saw at least 15 men armed with machine guns storm the house where the three foreign teachers were residing.

Several other witnesses confirmed the attack and put the death toll at four.

Mukhtar Robbow, a spokesman for the Islamist rebels operating in the area, confirmed the killing but denied any responsibility.

“We know that three foreigners have been killed in Beledweyne, but we do not know who is responsible,” he said.

A spokesman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said it was investigating the reports.

“We do not have an embassy in Somalia but our embassy in Nairobi (in Kenya) is trying to find out what they can about what has happened.”

Somalia and Chad are the only two countries where the FCO advises against all travel - only parts of Afghanistan and Iraq are classed as off-limits.