Witnesses Say Muslims Shielded Christians during Al-Shabaab Bus Attack in Kenya

Muslims in Kenya risked their lives to save Christians when Al-Shabaab militants stormed a bus, threatening to single out and shoot all of the Christians.

According to eyewitnesses, the Muslim passengers, who were mostly women, put themselves in front of the Christian passengers and told the militants that they would have to kill them all or leave them alone. The Muslims also told the attackers that they were all ready to die together.

"They told them, 'If you want to kill us, then kill us. There are no Christians here,'" bus passenger, Abdiqafar Teno said to CNN.

He added that many of the Muslim women gave their hijabs to Christians in order to hide them. Muslims also helped other Christians hide behind bags. There were about 100 passengers on the bus.

Abdi Mohaum Abdi, another Muslim passenger, stated reported by Reuters, "We even gave some non-Muslims our religious attire to wear in the bus so that they would not be identified easily. We stuck together tightly. The militants threatened to shoot us but we still refused and protected our brothers and sisters. Finally they gave up and left but warned that they would be back."

The gunmen, who reportedly demanded the passengers to separate themselves based on whether or not they were Muslim, ended up killing the bus driver and one Christian man who attempted to run. Three people were injured. After the shootings, the gunmen left but warned that they would be back.

More than 10 Somali militants were able to attack the bus, which was located north of El Wak after the police escort car broke down during the journey to Mandera, a city near the border of Somalia and Ethiopia. This bus route is considered to be dangerous, which is why a police escort usually travels with the bus.

The Interior Cabinet Secretary, Joseph Nkaissery, praised the Muslims for their brave actions.

"We are all Kenyans, we are not separated by religion," Nkaissery said. "We are one people as a nation. And this is a very good message from my brothers and sisters from the Muslim community."

He added that they are in pursuit of the gunmen.

This is not the first time that al-Shabaahbrebels attacked a bus filled with passengers. In 2014, the militants took 28 non-Muslim passengers off of a bus and fatally shot them. The group also killed 148 people earlier this year in April when they attacked Garissa University College. In that attack, they also singled out the Christians.