Kenya ? Gunmen carjacked a U.S. Embassy vehicle on the outskirts of the Kenyan capital Saturday and killed the wife of an embassy employee and his mother-in-law. Police later killed two of the carjackers.

Carjackings are common around Nairobi, and Kenya’s government spokesman, Alfred Mutua, said Saturday’s violence was believed to be “a random attack.”

“The thugs ordered the two women out but they hesitated,” said Isaiah Osugo, a criminal investigator. “Then they were shot.”

The victims were the wife and mother-in-law of a U.S. Embassy employee, said Robert Kerr, an embassy spokesman.

“These were people who loved Kenya,” Kerr said. He did not provide other details.

The attackers, who were armed with assault rifles, escaped with the embassy vehicle, said Francis Munyambu, Nairobi’s deputy provisional police officer. Police later killed two of the carjackers, police spokesman Gideon Kibunja said.