Sheikh Ibrahim Omar, who was believed to have ties to the Somali Al-Shabaab terrorists responsible for the mall attack in Nairobi just two weeks ago, was killed on Thursday in Mombasa, Kenya.
In response to the imam’s death, a group of protestors set fire to the Salvation Army church in Mombasa, setting off a series of clashes with the security forces they believed were responsible for Omar’s murder, Agence France-Presse reports.
Kenyan police then attempted to disperse the protestors with tear gas and were confident in their abilities to end the riot. According to Reuters, Mombasa county police chief Robert Kitur stated, “We are trying to deal with some youths who have started bringing trouble within town. They are few. We will contain them.”
A similar set of deadly riots ensued in August 2012 after another imam with ties to the Somali terrorists, Aboud Rogo, was killed. Rioters also believed police were behind Rogo’s murder, but they have denied both allegations.