At least ten dead, 70 injured as explosions hit market and bus in Nairobi; comes after UK tourists evacuated over terror threat

Attack...Doctors and medical staff help a man injured by one of the two blasts in the centre of Nairobi at Kenyatta National Hospital. Picture: AP Source: AP

TEN people have been killed and over 70 wounded in two explosions in a busy market area in the Kenyan capital Nairobi.

The twin blasts were caused by improvised explosive devices thrown at their targets, and one suspect has been arrested, police said.

“Two IEDS were detonated simultaneously,” Nairobi police chief Benson Kibue told reporters at the scene, adding: “Don’t panic. We are on top of things.”

The National Disaster Operation Centre said the first blast occurred on a 14-seater matatu, or public minibus, and the second was inside Gikomba Market, situated to the east of Nairobi’s central business district.

IED attacks...Security forces secure the scene at the site where two blasts detonated, one in a mini-van used for public transportation, in a market area of Nairobi. Picture: AP Source: AP

A spokesman at the Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi main hospital, said eight bodies had brought in and “more than 70” people admitted for treatment, many of them in a serious condition.

“Many of the injured are bleeding profusely. We need a lot of blood,” said hospital spokesman Simon Ithae.

Kenyan media reports said bombs were thrown at the minibus and into a shop in the market. Images showed a red minibus with its windows blown out and the surrounding area strewn with debris.

Terror attack...A member of the security forces patrols at the blast site, in what appeared to be the latest in a string of increasingly frequent terror attacks in Africa. Picture: AP Source: AP

The attacks come amid a wave of bombings and attempted bombings in both Nairobi and the port city of Mombasa, and come days after several countries issued new warnings against travelling in Kenya.

On Thursday and Friday, hundreds of British tourists were being evacuated from beach resorts near Mombasa because of the travel warnings.

Heading home...British tourists queue up to check in at Moi International Airport. Hundreds of British tourists were evacuated from beach resorts near Kenya's coastal city of Mombasa, following new warnings of terror attacks. Picture: AFP Source: AFP

Earlier this month three people were killed and 86 wounded in twin bus blasts in Nairobi that were blamed on Islamic militant cells linked to Somalia’s Al-Qaeda-linked Shebab rebels. The previous day twin attacks left four dead in Mombasa.

Kenya has been targeted by the Shebab since sending troops to war-torn Somalia in 2011. Kenyan soldiers are still posted in southern Somalia as part of an African Union force supporting the country’s fragile internationally-backed government.

Bloodshed...Doctors and medical staff help a woman injured by one of the two blasts in central Nairobi as she arrives to be treated at Kenyatta National Hospital. Picture: AP Source: AP

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the latest attacks — although Kenyan authorities have been engaged in a major security crackdown on suspected Shebab supporters in Nairobi.

The operation has focused on Nairobi’s main Somali district Eastleigh, and residents have accused police of indiscriminately arresting people of Somali origin. Gikomba Market is situated adjacent to Eastleigh.

The Shebab claimed responsibility for the high-profile attack on Nairobi’s Westgate shopping mall last year in which at least 67 people were killed.

Missing ...Nigerian women in Kenya demonstrate for the release of hundreds of Nigerian school agirls kidnapped by Islamic terror group Boko Haram, as terror attacks escalate across Africa. Picture: AFP Source: AFP