CRI听力:147 Killed in Kenya University Siege

A hostage taking at a university in eastern Kenya has left 147 people dead.

Islamist militants stormed Garissa University College early Thursday, taking students hostage and battling security forces for several hours before being taken out by Kenyan security forces.

Kenyan Interior Minister Joseph Nkaissery:

"When I talked to you this evening, at about quarter to seven, I told you that the operation was still ongoing, 90 percent of the threat has been eliminated. I want now to confirm to Kenyans that the operation has ended successfully, all the terrorists are killed, the four terrorists are killed."

Around 500 students managed to escape the attack.

"As you can see the situation we are in. I've even run naked. We weren't even given time to know what is happening,"

Somali militant group al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility.

This is the same group behind the 2013 attack on the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi.

Al-Shabaab has been attacking targets in neighboring Kenya following the Kenyan government decision to back an African Union force in Somalia meant to root out the militant group.

Al-Shabaab had defacto control of large portions of Somalia during the 20-years the country was without a central government.

It still maintains control of significant portions of southern Somalia.