Al-Shabaab militants pursued after killing of 3 in northeast Kenya

Kenyan police on Friday launched a manhunt for four Al-Shabaab militants who killed three people in the northeast region of Mandera before escaping toward Somalia’s border.

Mandera County Commissioner Fredrick Shisia said the gunmen killed a police officer and two civilians outside a bank in Elwak town in Mandera County early Friday.

Shisia said about five gunmen who were in a private vehicle drove towards the Equity Bank before spraying bullets indiscriminately from inside their vehicle at around 8:30 a.m, killing three on the spot.

He said the attackers sped off after the killings towards Bula Haji neighbouring Somalia, adding that the police responded swiftly, but that the assailants had escaped by the time they arrived.

Elwak town is located seven kilometres from the Kenya-Somalia border.

Shisia said he suspects the Al-Shabaab militants were on a revenge mission after two of their top commanders were killed on Monday by the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF).

“The Al Shabaab might have been revenging on the killing of two of their top commanders by KDF inside Somalia. The commanders originate from Elwak,” Shisia said.

He said the Al-Shabaab militants are known to upscale attacks during the last ten days of Ramadan and especially, during dates with odd numbers.

Shisia said the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) went off as the vehicle with two occupants drove near it at about 9:30 am on Friday in Lafey Sub County

Regional Commissioner Mohamud Saleh said security officers have been dispatched to the area to pursue the attackers, but no arrest had been made.

He said the security officers are under firm instructions to search the attackers.

Meanwhile, two people are nursing their injuries at a local hospital after their vehicle ran over a bomb planted on the road.

Shisia said the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) went off as the vehicle with two occupants drove near it at about 9:30 am on Friday in Lafey Sub County.

Regional Commissioner Mohamud Saleh said security officers have been dispatched to the area to pursue the attackers, but no arrest had been made.

He said the security officers are under firm instructions to search the attackers.

Meanwhile, two people are nursing their injuries at a local hospital after their vehicle ran over a bomb planted on the road.

Shisia said the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) went off as the vehicle with two occupants drove near it at about 9:30 am on Friday in Lafey Sub County.

“The windscreens of the vehicle were completely shattered down and two occupants of the vehicle seriously injured due to the impact of the blast,” Shisia said.

The government administrator called on road users to be careful while driving along the Lafey Mandera road as many IEDs targeting civilian and security officers have been planted in the past one month killing several people in different incidents.Shisia said.

The government administrator called on road users to be careful while driving along the Lafey Mandera road as many IEDs targeting civilian and security officers have been planted in the past one month killing several people in different incidents.

– By ANA