Kenya’s National Disaster Operation Centre reported that most of the victims were students, along with two police officers and one soldier. This is the bloodiest attack that Somali Al-Shabaab extremists have conducted in Kenya.

A Kenya Defense Force soldier runs for cover near the perimeter wall where attackers are holding up at a campus in Garissa April 2, 2015. (Photo: Reuters)

Kenyan police on Thursday circulated a photo of Mohamed Kuno, the Al-Shabaab leader in the Lower Juba region of southern Somalia, whom they believe is behind the attack.

The police announced a bounty of 54,350 USD for Kuno’s arrest.

Earlier, police and witnesses said a group of at least 5 masked gunmen stormed Garissa University College from a nearby mosque. They killed two watchmen and shot at students during morning prayers.

The militants exchanged fire with school guards at student dorms for hours. A number of students safely escaped the assault.

Students are evacuated from a university campus that was stormed by al Shabaab in Garissa, in this still image taken from video shot on April 2, 2015. (Photo: Reuters)

US Ambassador to Kenya Robert Godec strongly condemned Al-Shabaab’s heinous attack which once again reinforces the need for all countries and communities to unite to combat violent extremism.

The same day UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon condemned the "terrorist attack" and offered condolences to families of the victims and expressed his solidarity with the Kenyan people and government.

The White House said the US condemns in the strongest terms Thursday’s terrorist attack against the innocent young men and women of Garissa University College.  

India voiced its outage at the despicable attack and conveyed its sympathy to the families of those killed or injured.

Nigeria, which is fighting Boko Haram extremists, voiced its condemnation. According to the Nigerian President’s Office, such despicable and barbaric acts of violence have no place in any civilized society.