Mandera bus attack: Muslims shield Christian passengers in Kenya

At least three people were killed in the attack

Al-Shabaab are suspected to be responsible (file picture) (Reuters)

A group of Muslims protected Christian passengers when suspected Islamic extremists ambushed a bus in Kenya, according to eyewitness accounts.

The attackers ordered people off the vehicle in Mandera before telling them to split into groups of Muslims and non-Muslims. The Muslims refused their demands - daring the alleged extermists to kill them too, according to the Daily Nation newspaper.

"The Muslims stood with the Christians and dared the attackers to kill them all or leave," Mandera Governor Ali Roba told Anadolu Agency.

"This forced the miliants to leave in a hurry fearing retaliation by residents from nearby villiages

No one has taken responsibility for the attack, which has killed three people, but the militants are suspected to be from the terrorist group al-Shabaab.

When al-Shabaab killed 148 people in an attack in Kenya earlier this year, the militants reportedly singled out Christians, while freeing many Muslims.

Kenya has experienced several attacks from al-Shabaab, an extremist group linked to al-Qaida, since it sent troops to Somalia to fight the group in 2011.