Students from Kenya's Garissa University College take refuge in a vehicle after fleeing the campus following the attack by Somali militants.

Image source, AP

The BBC's Mohamed Moalimu in Somalia says the al-Shabab spokesman Ali Mohamud Rage said the Somali militants had "killed dozens".

In a statement he said some Muslims had been released. "We confirm that all attackers are safe and fighting inside," he said.

The number of people killed in the ongoing attack on Kenya's Garissa University College has risen to at least 14 people. A policeman at the scene told Reuters: "I have counted 14 bodies of dead people being carried out of the campus by a Red Cross ambulance, and they include two of our officers who were also killed."

A mortuary attendant in Garissa told the Associated Press the figure was at least 15 people and that at least 60 people had been injured.

These students, who had been sleeping without their tops, emerge from a house where they had sought refuge after gunmen attacked the Garissa University College in north-eastern Kenya at dawn.

Image source, AP

Kenyan newspaper the Daily Nation tweets, external about the raid on the university in the north-east of the country: "#GarissaAttack UPDATE: 8 bodies received at Garissa Hospital mortuary, eyewitnesses say."

Mary Harper
BBC News

tweets, external about the Kenya's Garissa University College attack: "#AlShabaab says it carried out the #GarissaAttack."

Students have gathered and are watching from a distance outside Kenya's Garissa University College after the dawn attack by gunmen.

Image source, AP

Kenya's interior ministry tweets, external about the attack on the university: "#GarissaAttack Update: Of the four hostels, 3 have been evacuated. The attackers have been cornered in one hostel & the operations continue."

There are reports that students have been taken hostage during an attack at the University of Garissa in Kenya. The AFP news agency quotes the Kenya Red Cross as saying an "unknown number" were being held.

An unnamed policeman at the scene also told the Reuters news agency there were hostages: "We can't tell how many but they are many since the college was in session."

The Kenya Red Cross tweets, external: "An aircraft with 4 doctors; 2 surgeons & 2 anesthesiologist has left for #Garissa to airlift critical casualties to Nairobi #GarissaAttack"

The police statement about the Garissa attack in Kenya, tweeted, external by the second inspector general of police, said:

"The attackers shot indiscriminately while inside the university compound. Police officers who were at the time guarding the students' hostels heard the gunshot and responded swiftly and engaged the gunmen in a fierce shootout, however the attackers retreated and gained entry into the hostels."

Caroline Karobia
BBC Africa, Nairobi

• The attack on Garissa University began at around 05:00 local time (02:00 GMT) when students were preparing to go for their morning prayers - is still going on

• Attackers (less than five) are believed to still be inside the university building; local media is reporting that six people have been killed

• Kenya Red Cross says 30 injured, four seriously. Kenya Red Cross airlifting surgeons to Garissa

• The army and an elite unit of police leading the rescue operation. Heavy security presence in the area

• Kenya Red Cross says it is a "no-go zone"

• Interior minister and inspector general of police on the ground leading the operation

• Sources says students are still stuck inside the institution and are cautioning against people calling them as this is posing a risk of been shot

• The university has the capacity for at least 1,000 students, teachers and non-teaching staff

• Businesses around the area are closed as the town remains tense

• Schools closed.

Amos Samba a reporter in Garissa for Kenya's Citizen TV, external has said gunfire is continuing around the campus and ambulances are close to the scene.

Image source, AP

Arnolda Shiundu from the Red Cross told the BBC's Newsday programme that a raid began when the militants threw a grenade at the gates of the university.

"The attackers then took over girls' hostel. Kenya Defense Forces, which has a base nearby, then took over the reaction to attack and locked down the campus," he said.

"We are organising blood donations at Garissa hospital, and trying to organise an airlift for those wounded."

Image source, AP

Kenya's Red Cross tweets, external: "In coordination with the Health Ministry plans are underway to airlifting critical casualties to Nairobi. Update follows #GarissaAttack."

Joseph Boinnet, the second inspector general of police in Kenya, has tweeted, external a full statement from the police on the Garissa attack:

"Official report of current status vide Garissa attack. Thank you for your support."

Image source, Joseph Boinnet

Augustine Alanga, the economics student at Garissa University, who spoke to the BBC's Newsday radio programme about the raid on the Kenyan campus, says he is now hiding in a friend's house.

"There are people [still] inside... most of the students' phones are off right now. I'm trying to call but I can't reach anyone.

"I don't want to go back to the university again. The security there is not good, we have been complaining to them [the authorities]. It's pathetic. Just imagine, you're guarded by two policemen. But it's well known that the security situation is not well."

Image source, AP

Francis Waithaka, based in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, tweets, external about the Garissa campus raid: "Their was intelligence of a pending attack targeting a University".

He posted a photo of an alleged internal memo.

Image source, Twitter

Augustine Alanga, an economics student at Garissa University, is hiding in a friend's house and has been speaking to the BBC's Newsday radio programme.

"We were asleep [in a hostel on campus], it was around 05:30 (08:30 GMT) when we heard several gunshots outside the hostel which forced all of us to escape except for a few who were taken hostage by the gunmen.

"It was horrible, my life was in danger, in fact all our lives were in danger because they were shooting at us with live bullets. Everywhere all over the school compound was gunfire."

It is not clear who is behind the attack, but Somali al-Shabab militants have regularly targeted Kenya. In 2013 the group was behind the siege of the Westgate shopping centre in the capital, Nairobi.

The al-Qaeda-affiliated insurgents have been angered by Kenya sending troops into Somalia, where they are now part of the African Union force. For more about the militants read: Who are Somalia's al-Shabab?

Image source, AP