6 Horrific Terror Attacks, Church Bombings and Beheadings of Christians in 2017
4. Al-Shabaab beheads 9 in Kenya
Al-Shabaab, the Somali-based terror group that has been attacking Christians and security forces in neighboring Kenya for years, beheaded at least nine Christians in Jima village in Lamu County on July 8.
Around 15 of the radical extremists seized the nine men before beheading them, with a police source describing at the time that the believers were "slaughtered like chickens using knives."
The terrorists were reportedly looking specifically for "non-Muslims" to kill, with the Kenya Red Cross helping civilians in the region flee as fears of the group's growing presence spread.
Security officials pointed out that the beheading method of execution is something new for al-Shabaab, as for the past few years it has been associated mostly with IS.