Red Cross: Blasts hit 2 churches in Kenya, killing 16

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• NEW: At least 40 others are injured, the Red Cross says


• The number of injuries in the explosions at Garissa town is unclear


• Attacks have escalated since Kenyan forces invaded Somalia to battle militants


• The grenade attacks have mostly targeted Nairobi, Mombasa and border areas

(CNN) -- Explosions targeting two churches in Kenya near the Somali border killed at least 16 people, the Red Cross said, in the latest spate of attacks on the East African nation.

The blasts injured at least 40 others, the Red Cross said.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the incidents.

Attacks have escalated since Kenyan forces invaded neighboring Somalia last year to battle Islamist militant group al-Shabaab, which it blamed for kidnappings of foreigners in the nation.

When Kenya pursued the militants, the terror group threatened with retaliatory attacks, saying it considers the incursion an affront to Somalia's sovereignty.

Since the invasion in October, Kenya has been targeted by a series of grenade attacks blamed on al-Shabaab or its supporters.

The grenade attacks have mostly targeted the capital of Nairobi, the port city of Mombasa and northeastern towns and refugee camps near the border with Somalia.

Garissa is close to the Somali border and the Dadaab refugee camp, where gunmen kidnapped four aid workers and killed a driver last week.

Al-Shabaab is linked to al Qaeda and has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States.

U.S. officials have issued warnings of potential attacks in the country since the incursion.

Source & Image : CNN World