Many Dead In Brutal al-Shabab Attack at Kenyan University

UPDATE 2:04 p.m.: Death toll in Garissa could be up to 150, the AP reports. The situation is over. Four of the jihadists are confirmed dead. A 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. curfew has been set on several counties in the region for security purposes. The attack is the most deadly since the 1998 Al Qaeda bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, which killed 213 people.

BREAKING: Kenya officials: Security op over, 4 attackers killed, death toll may be high as about 150.

— The Associated Press (@AP) April 2, 2015

BREAKING: Security operation at the Garissa University over, 4 attackers killed, death toll may be high as 150 #Kenya - @News_Executive

— Anil kumar (@simbamara) April 2, 2015

UPDATE 12:12 p.m.: Somali Islamic terror group al-Shabab has officially claimed responsibility for the attack, and has claimed to have separated Muslims hostages from non-Muslims.

Al Shabab tells the BBC that it has separated Muslims from non-Muslims & has killed many people in #GarissaAttack http://t.co/asz4wNM73c

— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) April 2, 2015

"There are many dead bodies of Christians inside the building. We are also holding many Christians alive'- al Shabaab #Kenya #GarissaAttack

— Reuters Africa (@ReutersAfrica) April 2, 2015

UPDATE 12:01 p.m.: Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Interior Joseph Ole Nkaissery has announced that the death toll at Garissa University is now 70 -- making the attack more deadly than the 2013 Westgate Mall siege. 79 are seriously injured. Also, 500 students have been rescued. Nkaissery announced that 90 percent of the threat has been eliminated.

Nkaissery: 90% of the threat has been eliminated. We have rescued 500 students. 70 have lost their lives #GarissaAttack

— K24 TV (@K24Tv) April 2, 2015

UPDATE: Two militants have been killed at Garissa.

#GarissaAttack UPDATE: Two terrorists killed, rescue operation intensified - @InteriorKE http://t.co/QrQPgNCkMS pic.twitter.com/ZgCdqj6gZD

— RT (@RT_com) April 2, 2015

Before dawn on Thursday morning, Somali al-Shabab militants attacked Garissa University in Kenya -- just over 200 miles from Nairobi.

So far, at least 21 are confirmed dead from the attack -- many put the number much higher, with many more wounded. The gunmen have taken prisoners, and reports indicate some have been beheaded. Kenya Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery has said that 533 students are currently being held hostage, and 282 have been rescued.

“It was around five [in the morning], and guys started jumping up and down, running for their lives,” a witness said, according to Kenyan News 24. “But where they were going to is where the gunshots were coming from... We went to the field, sat there, and the gunshots continued... This made us to run to the fence so that we can get away out from the school. Some jumped, some opened some openings from the fence and got out.”

According to reports, the militants targeted Christians in the attack: 

Collins Wetangula, who is also the vice chairperson of the Garissa University College students union told News24 that he heard the attackers question students whether they were Christian or Muslim before attacking them.

He said he heard gunshots and when he looked outside the window, he saw masked men shooting. He then locked fellow students in his room and sat tight.

"They were shouting loudly that they are al-Shabaab and that that we should all be afraid," he said of the beginning of the attack.

Heavy gunfire for the last 10 minutes. Never heard anything like this. Smoke coming out of the hostel @ntvkenya pic.twitter.com/srAEgNxWa8

— Dennis Okari (@DennisOkari) April 2, 2015

Claims have been made that there were warning signs prior to the attack:

Student survivor of #GarissaAttack tells me warning notices were put up yesterday, "but as it was April 1, we thought that it was fooling"

— Hannah McNeish (@HannahMcNeish) April 2, 2015

Kenyans on Twitter posting images of this letter at uni of nairobi from a week ago warning of terror attack #Garissa pic.twitter.com/RHoDeytDA8

— samira sawlani (@samirasawlani) April 2, 2015

Kenya’s Interior Ministry has put a bounty of 2 million Kenyan Shillings -- or more than $200,000 -- on Mohamed Kuno, the man they believe to be the mastermind of the attack.

Seen this man? Report to the security agencies through the numbers provided. #KaaChonjo #GarissaAttack pic.twitter.com/3K3EL3FyoK

— InteriorCNG Ministry (@InteriorKE) April 2, 2015

Kuno is also believed to be responsible for the bus attack last November, when more than 100 al-Shabab gunman shot 28 non-muslims when they were unable to recite a portion of the Quran. Al-Shabab was also responsible for the deadly siege of Westage Mall in Nairobi in 2013.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has ordered 10,000 pending police recruits to report immediately for training at the nation’s Police College in Kiganjo.

“I take full responsibility for this directive. We have suffered unnecessarily due to shortage of security personnel. Kenya badly needs additional officers, and I will not keep the nation waiting,” Kenyatta said in a statement.

Wounded from Garissa have been taken to Langata Barracks in Nairobi.

Military choppers landing with the dead and injured at Langata Barracks away from media focus. #GarissaAttack pic.twitter.com/xEIFv610v1

— Robert ALAI (@RobertAlai) April 2, 2015

Just yesterday at a conference, Kenyatta criticized other nations for keeping travel advisories in effect for Kenya.

Uhuru Kenyatta dismisses travel advisories, says Kenya is very safe #DiasporaConference2015 http://t.co/1T2bqyspQw

— ktn (@KTNKenya) April 1, 2015