Al-Shabaab terrorist group says it carried out attack in Nairobi in retaliation for Trump’s declaration of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
The Somali jihadist group behind a deadly terror attack in Kenya said Wednesday the assault was tied to US President Donald Trump’s support of Israel.
Al-Shabaab, a Somali organization linked to Al-Qaeda, claimed responsibility for the attack at Nairobi’s upscale DusitD2 hotel complex, in which over 14 people were killed.
In a statement, the group blamed Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
“The Mujahideen carried out this operation … [as] a response to the witless remarks of US President Donald Trump, and his declaration of Al-Quds [Jerusalem] as the capital of Israel,” the statement read, according to Reuters.
According to the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors jihadist groups, al-Shabaab released a photo of one of the attacker’s wearing a headband with text related to Jerusalem.
Trump has been a vocal supporter of Israel since taking office and in December 2017 recognized Jerusalem as the country’s capital, a move that was widely condemned in the Muslim world.
Jerusalem is home to Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site in Islam.
