Four injured in thwarted attack at Chinese site

An AK-47 rifle. Four people were injured when eight armed suspected Al-Shabaab militants attempted to overrun a Chinese Road Construction site in Shimbirey, about 50km from Garissa town, on Sunday evening. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Garissa County Police Commander Richard Kerina, who was among security officers to visit the scene, said swift response helped save many lives.

  • Hooded militants all armed with AK-47 rifles kidnapped a man from a nearby village and ordered him to take them to the Chinese construction site.

Four people were injured when eight armed suspected Al-Shabaab militants attempted to overrun a Chinese Road Construction site in Shimbirey, about 50km from Garissa town, on Sunday evening.

Garissa County Police Commander Richard Kerina, who was among security officers to visit the scene, said swift response helped save many lives.

According to the locals who spoke to the press on condition of anonymity, the hooded militants all armed with AK-47 rifles kidnapped a man from a nearby village and ordered him to take them to the Chinese construction site.

One of the villagers is said to have tipped off the officers guarding the site.

As they approached the camp, they started shooting indiscriminately prompting the workers who are housed outside the fenced camp to scamper for safety.

Mr Kerina said security officers guarding the camp responded immediately and in about 15 minutes, repulsed the militants who fled to nearby thickets.

During the shoot-out, the wife to one of the security guards manning the gate was shot. She was rushed to the Garissa County Referral hospital where she is recuperating.

Mr Kerina said her condition was stable. The woman’s husband is among the other three who were injured.

The police boss said the militants escaped on foot towards Dadaab and security officers are pursuing them.

“Traces of blood as they escaped on foot indicate that quite a number of them sustained serious bullet injuries and we are right on their heels,” Mr Kerina said.

Meanwhile, three suspected Al-Shabaab militants who were arrested in Hagadera refugee camp in Dadaab over the weekend have been transferred to Nairobi for further interrogation.