View source for Mpeketoni attacks

{{Infobox civilian attack
| title       = 2014 Mpeketoni attacks
| partof      = [[terrorism in Kenya]]
| image       = 
| image_size  = 
| alt         = 
| caption     = 
| map         =
| map_size    =
| map_alt     =
| map_caption =
| location    = [[Mpeketoni]], [[Kenya]]
| target      =
| coordinates = 
| date        = {{start date|2014|06|15|df=y}}
| time        = 17:30
| timezone    = GMT
| type        = Terrorist attack, [[mass murder]], [[arson]], anti-Christian [[hate crime]], mass shooting, [[Truck hijacking|van hijacking]]
| fatalities  = 60+
| injuries    = 
| perpetrators= [[Al-Shabaab (militant group)|Al-Shabaab]]
| weapons     = 
| numparts    = <!-- or | numpart     = -->
| dfens       = <!-- or | dfen        = -->
| motive      =
}}
{{History of Kenya}}
Between 15 June and 17 June 2014, more than 60 people were killed in attacks in and near [[Mpeketoni]], Kenya. The Somalia-based [[Al-Shabaab (militant group)|Al-Shabaab]] militant group claimed responsibility, but the Kenyan President [[Uhuru Kenyatta]] asserted that the attacks were organized by local politicians with ties to a network of gangs. Correspondents from the area suggested that the attacks may have been motivated by ethnic or religious hatred, or revenge for [[land grabbing]].

==First attack==
On 15 June 2014, about 50 masked gunmen hijacked a van<ref name=indy/><ref name=DailyNation>{{cite news|title=Mpeketoni attack: Death toll rises to 48|url=http://www.nation.co.ke/news/mpeketoni-Lamu-gunfire-al-shabaab-terrorism/-/1056/2349860/-/yf5qvgz/-/index.html|newspaper=Daily Nation|publisher=Nation Media Group|agency=AFP|accessdate=16 June 2014| date= 16 June 2014}}</ref> and raided a police station in the predominantly Christian town of [[Mpeketoni]], Kenya.<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-kenya-attacks-idUSKBN0EQ15120140615 | publisher = Reuters | date = 16 June 2014 | title = Unidentified gunmen hit hotels, petrol, police station at Kenya's coast: police}}</ref>  According to a local policeman, the gunmen then shot men at random as women were forced to watch.<ref name=indy>{{Cite web | url = https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/kenya-hotel-attack-suspected-alshabaab-militants-kill-48-people-in-mpeketoni-9539402.html | work = [[The Independent]] | date = 16 June 2014 | title = Kenya hotel attack: Suspected al-Shabaab militants kill 48 people in Mpeketoni  |first = Kashmira |last= Gander | accessdate = 16 June 2014}}</ref> The assailants also burned hotels, restaurants, and government offices.<ref name=DailyNation />

According to Kenyan President [[Uhuru Kenyatta]], the Mpeketoni police received warning of the attack ahead of time, but did not act on the warning.<ref name=bbc084 /> No on-duty police were killed in the attack and military reinforcements stationed {{convert|30|km|mi}} away did not arrive until 10 hours after the attack, leading ''[[The Standard (Kenya)|The Standard]]'' to declare the "government fed us to the dogs".<ref>{{cite news|title=Mpeketoni: Government fed us to the dogs as GSU chief waited for orders|url=http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/thecounties/article/2000125630/mpeketoni-government-fed-us-to-the-dogs-as-gsu-chief-waited-for-orders|date=21 June 2014|work=The Standard|accessdate=21 June 2014}}</ref><ref name=who>{{cite news|title=Mpeketoni – who was responsible? Blame game continues even among police|url=http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/thecounties/article/2000125629/mpeketoni-who-was-responsible|date=21 June 2014|work=The Standard|accessdate=21 June 2014|author=Kipchumba Some}}</ref> The newspaper's investigation suggested police had ignored calls for help, in some cases turning off their radios.  Others were watching [[2014 FIFA World Cup|World Cup]] games and did not receive notice of the situation. An eyewitness said he was told police vehicles did not have sufficient fuel to respond to his distress call. The police commissioner, who was reportedly suspended after the attack, stated "We responded robustly but we were overwhelmed."<ref name=who />

After the attacks, angry local Kenyans brandishing weapons subsequently took to Mpeketoni's streets in protest.<ref name=five />

At least 53 people were reportedly killed during the attack, and eight others were unaccounted for as of 18 June.<ref name=bbc084 /> Most of the dead Kenyans were [[Kikuyu people|Kikuyus]].<ref name=five />

==Second attack==
On 17 June 2014, assailants set fire to houses in the villages of Majembeni and Poromoko, near Mpeketoni. Initial reports also said twelve women were abducted during the raid, although that was later proven incorrect.<ref name=bbc084>{{Cite web | url = https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-27882084 | title = Kenya attacks: Al-Shabab raid village near Mpeketoni | publisher = BBC News | date = 17 June 2014 | accessdate = 17 June 2014 }}</ref>

After the second attack, Kenyan security forces located a group of suspects armed with [[AK-47]]'s fleeing from Mpeketoni. Five of the suspects were killed in a gun battle with security forces, while an undetermined number of others escaped.<ref name=five />

==Perpetrators==
Although no group immediately claimed responsibility for the first attack, Kenyan army spokesman Major Emmanuel Chirchir said the "assailants [are] likely to be [[Al-Shabaab (militant group)|Al-Shabaab]]".<ref name=bbc510>{{cite web|title='Islamists' attack Kenyan town near Lamu killing 48|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-27862510|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=16 June 2014| date= 16 June 2014}}</ref>

Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the second attack, saying its members had killed 20 people. Kenyatta asserted that local politicians, who were connected with a network of gangs, had instigated the attacks, and dismissed Al-Shabaab's claim of responsibility.<ref name=five>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-27931187 |title=Kenya attack: Five suspects shot dead near Mpeketoni |publisher=BBC News |date=19 June 2014 |accessdate=19 June 2014}}</ref>

Many locals accused the Kenyan government of attempting to enrich Kikuyus by giving them land. This grievance was also behind the [[2007–08 Kenyan crisis|fatal ethnic violence]] that took place following the disputed 2007 Kenyan elections. President Kenyatta, a Kikuyu himself, described the attacks as "politically motivated ethnic violence against a Kenyan community, with the intention of profiling and evicting them for political reasons". The opposition leader [[Raila Odinga]], who Kenyatta had defeated in the [[Kenyan general election, 2013|2013 general election]], denied involvement in the violence and suggested that Kenyatta's remarks were "unfortunate and unjustified".<ref name=five />

Correspondents from the area conjectured that ethnic [[Somali people|Somali]] or [[Oromo people|Oromo]] residents may have perpetrated the attack and attempted to deflect blame onto Al-Shabaab by using the group's flag as a guise.<ref name=five />

On 25 June, [[Lamu County]] Governor Issa Timamy was arrested on charges related to the attack.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kenya arrests governor over attacks that killed 65|author=Joseph Akwiri|work=The Star|url=http://www.thestar.com.my/News/World/2014/06/26/Kenya-arrests-governor-over-attacks-that-killed-65/|accessdate=25 June 2014|date=25 June 2014}}</ref>

==References==
{{portal|Kenya}}
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mpeketoni attacks}}
[[Category:2014 mass shootings in Africa]]
[[Category:Terrorist incidents in Kenya in 2014]]
[[Category:2014 murders in Kenya]]
[[Category:Al-Shabaab (militant group) attacks in Kenya]]
[[Category:Mass murder in 2014]]
[[Category:Spree shootings in Africa]]
[[Category:Arson in Kenya]]
[[Category:Hijackings in Africa]]
[[Category:Attacks on police stations in the 2010s]]
[[Category:Islamic terrorism in Kenya]]
[[Category:Islamic terrorist incidents in 2014]]
[[Category:Anti-Christian sentiment in Africa]]
[[Category:Violence against men in Africa]]
[[Category:Hijackings in the 2010s]]
[[Category:21st-century mass murder in Kenya]]
[[Category:Law enforcement controversies]]
[[Category:Law enforcement in Kenya]]
[[Category:Corruption in Kenya]]
[[Category:Attacks on buildings and structures in 2014]]
[[Category:Deaths by firearm in Kenya]]
[[Category:Attacks on hotels in Kenya]]
[[Category:Attacks on restaurants in Africa]]
[[Category:Attacks on office buildings in Africa]]
[[Category:Road incidents in Kenya]]
[[Category:Lamu County]]
[[Category:2014 road incidents in Africa]]
[[Category:2014 controversies]]
[[Category:2014 protests]]
[[Category:Protests in Africa]]
[[Category:Arson in 2014]]
[[Category:Mass shootings in Kenya]]
[[Category:June 2014 crimes in Africa]]
[[Category:June 2014 events in Africa]]
[[Category:Terrorist incidents against transport in Kenya]]