Muslims Protect Christians During Deadly Al-Shabab Bus Attack in Kenya

Two people were killed during an attack in Mandera, Kenya, Monday. But thanks to the courage of a few Muslim passengers, many lives were spared.

More than 10 Islamist militants invaded a bus in the northeast Kenya city yesterday. The al-Shabab members ordered Muslims and Christians to split into two groups, but the Muslims passengers would not cooperate.

"We even gave some non-Muslims our religious attire to wear in the bus so that they would not be identified easily," Abdi Mohamud, a Muslim passenger who survived the barrage, told Reuters.

Somali Militia of al-Shabab seen during exercises at their military training camp outside Mogadishu. The armed wing of the former ruling Islamic Courts in Somalia, al-Shabab is a powerful resurgent group and has been fighting foreign troops in the country since early 2007. Al-Shabab was named as a terrorist organization by United States of America. (AP Photo)

In the past, Somalia-based al-Shabab has targeted Christians and non-Christians alike.

"The militants threatened to shoot us, but we still refused and protected our brothers and sisters,” Abdi said. “Finally, they gave up and left but warned that they would be back."

Julius Otieno, the deputy county commissioner, confirmed that the militants "were trying to identify who were Muslims and who were not," but the Muslims on board would not budge.

In an unexpected turn of events, the militants fled, instead of killing all of the passengers in al-Shabab’s typical brutal fashion.

The terror group believes that Kenya should be part of Somalia and has promised to continue attacks on Kenya until Nairobi withdraws troops from an African Union force that has been targeting al-Shabab militants in Somalia.

(H/T: NBC)

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