The incident occurred at 9:45 p.m. local time, which comes a day after the U.S. government warned of an "imminent threat" of a terror attack on Mombasa and urged the American government officials to vacate the port city.
Police and Xinhua reporters at the scene said at least three grenades were hurled inside the Jericho Bar in Mishomoroni, about 8 km from Mombasa town where revelers were having drinks.
"There were at least three grenades which were hurled inside the Jericho Bar situated in Mishomoroni Bamburi of Mombasa. Seven others were injured and have been rushed to the hospital by the Kenya Red Cross Society," an eye witness who requested anonymity told Xinhua on Sunday night.
Local media reported three feared dead in the attacks.
Bomb experts and anti-terrorism police officers have rushed to the scene to secure the place. "We have launched investigations to establish the motive behind the attack," Coast regional Criminal Investigating Officer (CID) Ambrose Munyasia said at the scene.
A statement from the U.S. embassy in Nairobi said it has suspended all U.S. government travel to the coastal city of Mombasa until July 1, adding American private citizens are not subject to the same restrictions but should consider this information in their travel planning.
However, the Kenyan government protested at the travel advisory, terming it an economic sabotage.
"It is a reckless advisory and it was totally uncalled for," Acting Head of the Public Service Francis Kimemia told journalists in Mombasa on Sunday.
Kimemia said the east African nation was playing a pivotal role in ensuring that terrorism and other forms of criminal activities threatening the country's security were minimized if not eliminated.
He termed the ban as unfortunate and urged tourists to ignore it, saying it came at an unfortunate time despite efforts by Kenya to root out terrorism.
Tourism Minister Dan Mwazo confirmed that since the ban was issued, over 100 cancellations to the Kenyan coast have been reported, terming it a big blow to the tourism industry.
Mombasa, the country's second largest city and a major tourist spot is one of various cities targeted by a series of grenade attacks and abduction of foreigners in recent months.
France has also warned its citizens to be "extremely vigilant" in Mombasa.
The warnings came as police are questioning two Iranians detained over suspected links to a terror network planning bombings in the east African nation's key cities.
Kenyan anti-terrorism police on Sunday also arrested two Nigerians without valid documents to be in Kenya and recovered heavy communication gadgets floating along the shore of Indian Ocean in Mombasa, which police suspected are used to make explosive device.
The police said they suspect the Nigerians to be engaging in some unlawful activities in the coastal city and other parts of the country.
from XINHUA
2012-06-25 05:29:18
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