Somali allies of Bin Laden suspected in Kenya bombing

A group of Islamists based in Somalia and linked to Al-Qa'ida has emerged as the prime suspect for Thursday's bomb and missile attacks on Israeli tourists in Kenya, American officials said yesterday.

"At this point, it is not clear who is responsible ­ it's too early," a US spokesman said after 16 people died in the suicide bombing at an Israeli-owned hotel near Mombasa. He said the most likely suspect was the extremist Al-Itihad al-Islamiya, based in neighbouring Somalia, and also known as AIAI or the Islamic Union.

The suggestion of a Somali link was made as Kenyan police rounded up four Somalis among 12 foreigners held for questioning. Also held were six Pakistanis, an American woman and her Spanish partner. Police said they were looking for others of "Arab appearance".

Israeli forensic scientists and intelligence agents began searching for clues to the hotel suicide bombing and simultaneous missile attack on an Israeli airliner. Israeli air force planes brought doctors, psychologists and soldiers to help to fly home tourists and return the three Israelis who died, brothers aged 13 and 15 and a 61-year-old man. Kenyan families prepared to bury their dead, mostly dancers who were welcoming tourists to the Hotel Paradise just before the attack. Yellow tape in Hebrew lettering cordoned off the entrance to the hotel as rescue workers pulled another victim from the wreckage, bringing the death toll to 16.