Two Canadians have died in a terrorist attack at a shopping mall in Kenya, including diplomat Annemarie Desloges
Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s office issued a statement confirming Desloges died along with one other unidentified Canadian.
The statement called Desloges a distinguished public servant of the Department of Citizenship and Immigration who served in Canada’s High Commission to Kenya.
“The hearts and prayers of all Canadians go out to the families and friends of all those affected by this senseless tragedy, and we extend our deepest condolences to those suffering the loss of Annemarie Desloges, one of our diplomats who has died in the attack,” Harper said in a statement.
Desloges went to Kenya two years ago after serving at an embassy in New Delhi, reported CTV. She had worked for the Canadian government since 2008.
Robert Munk, her husband, was injured in the attack but survived.
Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird offered his condolences to the families of the deceased in Ontario.
“That people could be gunned down in broad daylight in a shopping mall on a weekend is just a tremendous tragedy. And obviously when you have someone who is serving their country abroad, it’s quite devastating,” Baird said.
“When anyone is killed in a terrorist incident, it deeply affects us. But when it’s a Canadian, it hits home. And when it’s someone is government, obviously it just shakes us to the core.”
Kenyan officials say at least 59 people were killed and 150 others were wounded in the assault, as of Sunday evening Kenyan time.
Somalia’s Islamic extremist group al-Shabab has claimed responsibility and says the attack was retribution for Kenyan forces’ 2011 push into Somalia.
