Murdered because they weren't Muslim: Somalia's Al-Shabab Group Militant Group Kills 28 People On Kenya Bus

Islamic Shebab extremists ambushed a bus in Kenya before executing 28 non-Muslims at point-blank range in a revenge attack for police raids on mosques in the troubled city of Mombasa.

The heavily-armed gunmen ambushed the bus early this morning as it headed for Nairobi from Mandera, a town that lies on the border with Somalia.

The extremists reportedly separated the Muslims from the 28 victims by forcing them to read versus from the Koran. Those that failed were shot in the head at point-blank range. #MORE pics below:

Among the victims were several children, who were shot in the head at point-blank range alongside the other victims

Rescue workers walk near the Nairobi-bound bus that was ambushed outside Mandera town

Security officers gather around the bodies of those who were killed at the scene of the attack

After the ambush, a Shebab spokesman said the 'perishing of the crusaders' was in retribution for last week's raids 'against Muslim brethren' in Mombasa, which heightened tensions in the city.

The death toll - which included 19 men and nine women - was confirmed by Kenya's Red Cross, which said it was attempting to retrieve the victims' bodies from the scene.

Regional police chief Noah Mwavinda also told AFP. 'I can confirm... that 28 innocent travellers were brutally executed by the Shebab.'

Relatives of those who were killed cry as the bodies of their loved ones arrive at Chiromo mortuary in Nairobi, Kenya