Early this morning a group of mujahideen from al-Shabaab slaughtered thirty-six non-Muslim quarry workers in northern Kenya. As in other recent attacks, the gunmen demanded that each worker recite verses from the Koran (or possibly the shahada). Those who were unable to do so were identified as non-Muslims, and shot.

The following news video from KTN shows a brief address by Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta describing what happened this morning, and issuing what is in effect a declaration of war against al-Shabaab.

Notice his refreshing willingness to forego any mention of “workplace violence” or “extremism”. Instead he clearly states the ideology that lies behind the terror attack:

Below are excerpts from three news articles about the massacre in Kenya. First, from ABC News:

Militants Kill 36 Non-Muslims in Northern Kenya

The heavily armed Somali men roused the sleeping quarry workers in the dead of night.

As in previous such attacks, the gunmen singled out the non-Muslims by asking them to recite the Islamic creed. Then they killed 36 of them — most with a gunshot to the back of the head, according to a survivor who hid nearby during the slaughter.

The Islamic militant group al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the methodical massacre in northern Kenya early Tuesday — 10 days after a similar attack on a bus that killed 28 — and it prompted President Uhuru Kenyatta to shake up his national security team amid public outrage over the continuing violence.

“I know we are all under a lot of pressure, but I appeal to each one of us: This is not a time to be cowed by the enemy,” Kenyatta said in a nationally televised address.

“This is a war we must win,” he said. “We will not flinch or relent in the war against terrorism in our country and our region.”

From CNN:

36 Feared Killed in Attack in Kenyan Village

(CNN) — Al Shabaab militants are suspected of killing at least 36 people whose bodies were found in a quarry in a Kenyan village near its border with Somalia.

The bodies were found in a quarry in the village of Kormey, about 15 kilometers (9 miles) from the border city of Mandera, the Red Cross said.

It’s an area where Al Shabaab militants are known to operate.

Around 20 gunmen targeted a group of workers at the site, CNN affiliate KTN reported.

And from ANSA:

Islamist Extremists Kill 36 Quarry Workers in Kenya

(ANSA) – Nairobi, December 2 – Islamist extremists from the Somalia-based al-Shabaab (the Youth) militia have slaughtered 36 quarry workers in northeastern Kenya, the Red Cross said Tuesday.

The massacre by what was reportedly a commando of 11 men took place on the night between Monday and Tuesday, 15 kms from the city of Mandera located near the border with Somalia.

The victims, all non-Muslim workers at a nearby quarry, were attacked in their sleep, some of them horribly decapitated.

Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack and promised new ones would be carried out. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday sacked the national police chief and the interior minister and announced he will wage war on the Somali militia, the BBC reported.

Hat tips: For the ANSA report, Insubria; for the video, Vlad Tepes.