Police shoot dead three gunmen in Changamwe

Three suspected gangsters were Wednesday morning shot dead in Changamwe, Mombasa County as they were allegedly attempting to rob a fuel station.

The three are said to have come into the Shell petrol station in Changamwe at the Magongo-Airport junction at around 11am when they were accosted by officers who shot them before they could commit a crime.

Confirming the incident, Mombasa County Deputy Commander of Police Sevelino Kubai said that the three were planning to invade the petrol station when they were gunned down.

“This morning we got information that the three thugs were planning to rob this petrol station and police officers ambushed them before they could commit the offence,” Mr Kubai said.

He said the gangsters pushed their vehicle into the station pretending that it had ran out of fuel, in a bid to gain access into the station.

GUNS RECOVERED

“We have recovered two AK-47 rifles, three magazines and 62 rounds of 7.6mm ammunition.

These are the criminals who have been terrorising the residents in Mombasa,” he added.

Mr Kubai called on members of the public to work together with the police and other security agents to help combat crime in the coastal town.

He said the gunmen were suspected to be part of the gang behind attacks that have been witnessed in the region in the recent past.

Mr Kubai put on notice other criminals within Mombasa County warning them that their days were numbered.

According to an eyewitness who is an attendant at the filling station, the gunmen came and asked for fuel.

“I was at the pump when the men came in and asked me to fill their tank with Sh500 worth of fuel.

When I was about to close the fuel tank some unidentified men came and asked me to stop what I was doing and move away from the vehicle,” the attendant said.

ORDERED OUT OF CAR

“The next thing I saw was the doors being opened and the men in the car being ordered to come out.

The plain clothes police officers who were on their trail took two back packs from the white saloon car and from them removed the AK-47 guns which they used on them.

They shot them as they lay on the ground,” said the eyewitness.

At the same time, a businessman at the scene of the crime confirmed to the Daily Nation that one of the gunmen had robbed him at gunpoint on Monday morning.

“One of them robbed me at gunpoint on Monday morning. He came on a boda boda asking for fuel but I had run out of stock. But once I told them that, he removed a gun, cocked it and demanded for cash from me. He took Sh50, 000 and left,” he said.