At least 48 people have died after dozens of extremists attacked a Kenyan coastal town, killing those who were unable to answer questions about Islam or did not know the Somali language, witnesses said.

At least 48 people were killed when dozens of Somali extremists wielding automatic weapons attacked a small Kenyan coastal town for hours, assaulting the police station, setting two hotels on fire, and spraying bullets into the street, officials said today.