Up to 160 dead in Kenya university attack

Reports now claim that as many as 160 people may have died in the Islamic extremist attack at a Kenyan university , security officials have said.

Officials at the scene of the attack at a college in north east Kenya say the security operation to free hostages is over.

The gunfire has ended, dozens of hostages have been freed, and four of the gunmen have been killed.

Kenyan interior minister Joseph Nkaissery gave the death toll as 70 but conceded it could go higher.

One Kenyan police source said there were 147 dead and another police source said 160.

A third source put the death toll at around 80 but said there were so many bodies that he could not do a proper count as night fell with no electrical power to light the scene.

The gunmen had forced their way into dormitories, taking hostages and singling out non-Muslims.