Nightspot attacked in Mombasa

(eTN) – The Moi Avenue based Bella Vista Night Club and Restaurant in Mombasa was hit last evening by what has been described as both gunfire and an explosion.

(eTN) – The Moi Avenue based Bella Vista Night Club and Restaurant in Mombasa was hit last evening by what has been described as both gunfire and an explosion. While details remain sketchy at this stage, information has been trickling in since 10pm last night that at least one person, probably one of the security guards outside the venue, may have died of his injuries while several others were rushed by emergency services to various hospitals for treatment.

Allegedly two or three men, driving up to the Bella Vista parking, were seen arguing with the guard at the security checkpoint. They were apparently trying to sneak through, but when stopped for a check, which is now mandatory at literally all public places and venues, a struggle ensued before shots were fired and an explosion heard.

Said a regular coast tourism source: โ€˜If it is true the guard died while trying to stop them from getting inside, he is a hero in my bookโ€™ before continuing โ€˜This is of course bad for coast tourism but I also must say that the security measures which were put in place are working, although there is not much one can do in a situation like this but to keep those with bad intentions as far away from the intended venue as possibleโ€™.

Other sources have sent in details that at least one fire arm was recovered by security personnel which arrived at the scene as soon as the alarm was raised, but in view of the ongoing situation and considering that only 4 hours have passed since the incident, no further information has been forthcoming from any other regular and reliable sources in Mombasa.

The incident comes on the same day as the coast tourism industry has expressed their concerns over forward bookings to government, blaming a softening market on the continued uncertainty over the elections dates, which is for anyoneโ€™s guess at present. โ€˜We urge government to end this uncertainty over the polling dates and make a final announcement, so that at least until then business can continue without tour operators starting to pull back from the earliest possible date in August to December to March next year. It is not a responsible way of doing things and besides, government owes it to us to set an election date and then we can get on with thingsโ€™ the same source said.

LATEST UPDATE

Now confirmed by a number of sources that it was apparently one attacker, using one gun he later dropped and that no explosives were involved, contrary to earlier indications given to me by Mombasa sources.

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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