Al-Shabaab storms Garissa University College in Kenya; 15 dead, hostages taken.

- 7:07 a.m. ET: Heavy gunfire and explosions continue at Garissa University College, more than nine hours after the attack began, CNN affiliate NTV says. Hundreds of students flee, some crawling.-- 6:22 a.m. ET: At least 15 people have been killed by gunmen who attacked a Kenyan university Thursday, officials said, according to CNN affiliate Citizen TV. The officials said 550 people are still unaccounted for at the campus that had about 815 students.

-- 6:22 a.m. ET: The officials said one terrorist has been arrested as he tried to slip through the security cordon and flee the scene.

Full story:

A swarm of gunmen stormed a Kenya university before dawn Thursday, firing indiscriminately and taking hostages.At least 15 people have been killed, security and interior ministry officials said, according to CNN affiliate Citizen TV. The officials said 550 people are unaccounted for at the campus that had about 815 students.

At least 65 people were hospitalized from the attack at Garissa University College, the Kenyan Red Cross said.Nine hours after the attack began, heavy gunfire and explosions continued, said Dennis Okari of CNN affiliate NTV.Okari said he was told to take cover as hundreds of students fled, some crawling.

The Somali-based Al-Shabaab militant group claimed responsibility for the assault. Security and ministry officials said one terrorist was arrested as he tried to slip through the security cordon and flee the scene.

Kenyan forces cleared three of four dormitories and had cornered the militants in the last one, the interior ministry said.

Garissa is about 145 kilometers (90 miles) from the border with Somalia. Al-Shabaab militants have often launched attacks inside Kenya ever since the Kenyan government sent troops across the border to fight the group.

 

 

The gunshots started going off "like fireworks" around 5 a.m., at the time of morning prayers, witness Milka Ndung'u told NTV. She and others escaped to a field, but gunshots followed them.

Augustine Alanga told CNN he woke up to the sound of gunfire and described students running around, seeking safety.

 

Assailants forced their way onto the campus by shooting at guards at the front gates, Kenya National Police said.From there, attackers moved into a nearby girls' hostel, the Red Cross said.It's not clear how many gunmen were on campus.

"We don't know how many there were, but there are probably more than 10," said Robert Alai Onyango, a blogger in Nairobi. "We believe the attackers were wearing something close to military fatigues."

Onyango said the attackers appeared to be shooting indiscriminately and "basically from all angles.""They surrounded the mosque ... we don't know why they were surrounding the mosque," Onyango said.

About 300 students who escaped sought refuge at a Kenya Defense Forces camp, local newspaper journalist Steven Astariko said.

"We are saddened & angered by today's terrorist attack @ #Garissa Univ.," the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi tweeted. "Our deepest condolences 2 family/friends of victims."

News Courtesy: www.cnn.com