Two police officers killed in Al-Shabaab attack in Mandera

Al-Shabaab militants killed two police officers on December 27, 2015 when they attacked a police vehicle which was escorting the Fino Police Station OCS to Takaba through El Wak Town in Mandera County. PHOTO | COURTESY

What you need to know:

  • Mr Shisia blamed the success of the attack on poor travel arrangement by security officers.
  • On Saturday, a suspected militant was killed and three others injured after an IED they were planting on the road exploded after they were ambushed by security officers on patrol.

Two police officers were on Sunday killed and several others injured in an Al-Shabaab attack on a police vehicle in Mandera County.

Mandera County Commissioner Fredrick Shisia said the militants attacked the police vehicle as it was escorting the Fino Police Station OCS to Takaba through El Wak Town at around 10:30am.

Mr Shisia blamed the success of the attack on poor travel arrangement by security officers.

"We cannot have six officers going through the area because it has been marked as a hot spot for quite some time. Similar mistakes led to the loss of a military officer and others who have been injured last month at the same spot," Mr Shisia said.

The attack happened near the area where a Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) officer was killed and two others injured after they were ambushed by militants as they drove towards Mandera two weeks ago.

The area is close to the Kenya-Somalia border making it easy for militants to slip back to the neighbouring country after staging attacks or planting improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

SATURDAY'S FOILED ATTACK

On Saturday, a suspected militant was killed and three others injured after an IED they were planting on the road exploded when they spotted security forces on patrol approaching.

Kenya Defence Forces and Kenya Police officers were on patrol in Garsesala, within Dabacity Town, when they spotted the suspects planting the IEDs near the scene where Muslim passengers shielded Christians from an attack last week.

Mandera County Commissioner Fredrick Shisia on Saturday, said the suspected militants detonated the IEDs, killing one of them instantly.

“The patrol team led by Mandera Central OCPD, AP commander, Rural Border Patrol Unit commander, the DCIO and a KDF commander spotted a group of suspects on the road leading to Garsesala Dam. On seeing the security officers, they panicked, leading to the death of one suspect. Several others fled with injuries,” Mr Shisia said.

Mr Shisia said the militants might have targeted the spot since KDF officers from El Wak camp fetch water from Garsesala Dam.

“The area has been under police surveillance since the bus attack,” he said.