Several killed in twin explosions at tourist hotel and bus shelter in Kenya

At least three people were killed in one of two explosions at a bus stop and at a tourist hotel along the coast of Kenya on Saturday.

Authorities said the grenade blast at the bus stop in Mwembe Tayari, Mombasa, which killed several people, also injured seven others.

AP reports that a bag with an improvised explosive device was seen near the coastal Reef Hotel in Nyali and the passer-by noticed it in time to take cover before it detonated. There were no fatalities reported there.

There were no explanations reported by authorities but similar attacks have been blamed on the al-Qaida-linked Somali group al-Shabaab, which killed at least 67 people at the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi last September.

Ranjit Sondhi, a director at the Reef Hotel, said the hotel was not damaged and the blast occurred on a nearby public beach.

According to the Daily Mail, the attacks happened simultaneously at around 8pm.

Kisauni district commissioner of police Tom Anjere said: "No-one was hurt or injured at the Reef Hotel but our concern is that senior security officers were there attending a workshop and they were clearly the target of the attack.

"An improvised explosive device damaged the bar and we have set-up police check points in the area."

Kenya has seen a number of gun and explosive attacks since it sent troops to neighbouring Somalia to fight al-Shabaab militants in 2011. The group has vowed to carry out terrorist attacks in Kenya to avenge the presence of the country's troops in Somalia.

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