4 Dead in Kenyan Minibus Explosion

Passenger van was traveling from area with community of ethnic Somalis to city center

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Danie Irungu / EPA

Kenyan security officials inspect the scene of an explosion in Nairobi, Kenya, Dec. 14, 2013.

An explosion on a Kenyan minibus Saturday has left four dead and at least 30 injured in the nation’s capital.

Police said a device exploded inside the bus in Nairobi, killing at least 4 and injuring 30, the Associated Press reports. The van was traveling from Eastleigh, where a large community of ethnic Somalis reside and also known as “Little Mogadishu,” to the city center, according to authorities.

The explosion is the first major attack since September’s Westgate Mall tragedy, a hostage crisis that left 67 people dead and dozens wounded. The four gunman believed to have carried out the attack were ethnic Somalis, the AP reported in November.

Kenya has been battling with rebels since its military entered into Somalia in 2011 to oppose the extremist Islamic group al-Shabab, which has been linked to al-Qaida and claimed responsibility for the Westgate incident.

[AP]