Kenya abduction
October 13, 2011
Gunmen reportedly kidnapped two European aid workers near the Dadaab refugee camp in eastern Kenya on Thursday.
The pair had been working for Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) at what has become the world's largest refugee camp with around 450,000 residents, many of whom have fled conflict and drought in neighboring Somalia.
North Eastern Province police commander Leo Nyongesa confirmed the kidnapping, adding that it was believed al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabaab militants were responsible.
"We've mobilized all the officers and alerted those at the border to ensure that no vehicle exits the country to Somalia. The whole border area is now sealed," he said.
Nyongesa told news agency Agency-France Presse that the abductees were both female Spanish doctors.
Crisis team set up
MSF confirmed the attack on its staff at Dadaab and said a driver had also been injured.
"He's currently hospitalized and stable. Two international staff are missing. A crisis team has been set up to deal with this incident," MSF said in a statement.
The alleged kidnappers have yet to issue any ransom demands.
Thursday's attack follows the kidnappings of a British tourist and a French woman from Kenyan resorts near the Somali border.
Author: Darren Mara (Reuters, AFP)
Editor: Martin Kuebler