JOHANNESBURG, South Africa -- A French woman was kidnapped Saturday from an island in the Lamu archipelago of Kenya and there are concerns she has been taken hostage by Somali militants linked to al-Qaida, according to the Internal Security Ministry.

The Kenyan navy waged a shootout in open waters with the militants, reportedly injuring several. However, the armed men, suspected to be from the al-Shabaab militia, managed to escape in a motorboat.

Internal Security Minister George Saitoti said two coast guard vessels and a helicopter were involved in the operation, according to the Standard newspaper.

"In the ensuing shootout between the abductors and the Kenya Navy, several of the abductors were injured but managed to enter Ras Kamboni," Saitoti said, referring to an area just over the border in Somalia.

According to witnesses cited by local radio, the disabled elderly woman was kidnapped from her island home shortly after midnight.

The kidnapping comes after a British couple was attacked Sept. 11 in a resort village in northern Kenya. The man was shot and killed while his wife was taken hostage and is believed to be being held captive in neighboring Somalia by a group allied to al-Shabaab.

The latest incident could further damage Kenya's key tourism industry.