Church attack leaves four worshippers dead and 17 injured

At least four people were killed and a further 17 were injured when two gunmen burst into a crowded church and opened fire indiscriminately on worshippers in Mombasa, Kenya.

The Red Cross said two people were killed instantly while two other succumbed to their injuries later.

“They were shot by gunmen who shot indiscriminately at worshippers and then fled,” police officials said.

The attack came despite increased security in Kenyan cities amid heightened warnings of extremist violence.

No group has yet to claim responsibility, but Kenya has been hit by a series of attacks since sending troops into southern Somalia to battle al-Qaeda linked al-Shabaab militias.

In September al-Shabaab commandos killed at least 67 people in Nairobi's Westgate mall.

Last month security chiefs warned of "increased threats of radicalisation" among homegrown Islamists.

Tensions are high between the security forces and radical Muslim youths. Last month police raided a mosque accused of encouraging extremism in Mombasa, detaining scores of suspects whom they accused of attending a radicalisation meeting.