Kenya's Garissa univ. attack mastermind killed in S. Somalia: police

Kenyan police confirmed on Wednesday that a senior Al-Shabaab commander who was behind the Garissa University attack in April last year was killed by airstrikes in southern Somalia on Tuesday night.

Inspector General of police Joseph Boinnet said that Mohamed Kuno, alias Dulyadayn or Sheikh Mahamad, was killed by special security forces during operations conducted in Farwamo and Bulo-Gadud villages, about 30kms north of Kismayo.

"We have reports that he was killed in an airstrike by special security forces. He was behind the Garissa university attack," Boinnet said.

Security officials said the operation, which also killed two other militants, was conducted by the Somalia and foreign forces though information is scanty.

Kuno is believed to have been behind the dreadful Garissa university attack which left over 148 people, mainly students, dead.

Kuno, who hails from Garissa in northern Kenya, was Al-Shabaab's Jabha leader for Juba region, Somalia. He was, prior to his death, in charge of external operations against Kenya.

The police said Kuno was believed to be very religious and has been a Madrassa teacher for several years. He worked for Al-Haramain Foundation between 1993 and 1995 before the institution was closed. At the time he was known as Sheikh Mahamad.

He later he became a teacher and principal at Madarasa Najah in Garissa from 1997-2000 where his extremist tendencies became more manifested. Enditem