GARISSA – At least eight police officers were injured in an explosion that hit their vehicle along Banabs-Yumbis Road in Garissa County, police authorities said.
The group was travelling in a police Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle in the area on the evening of Tuesday, August 5, when the vehicle ran over an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).
This was after the team from the Border Patrol Unit had been ambushed and engaged in a shootout by gunmen believed to be members of the al-Shabaab militia.
The attackers had laid an ambush and the IED.
A second Land Cruiser with more personnel arrived at the scene to rescue the colleagues who had been trapped in the damaged MRAP.
They were rescued from the burning vehicle and rushed to the hospital with serious injuries.
They were later evacuated to a local hospital for attention ahead of a planned further evacuation to Nairobi, officials said.
The attackers managed to escape the scene, police said.
They also indicated the gang is still in the area, which is known to be the main operating base for the terror group.
The area has been experiencing a fluctuating lull from attacks related to al-Shabaab militants.
This is due to police operations in the region at large.
The operations have managed to contain the al-Shabaab attacks.
The area is near the porous Kenya–Somalia border, which is usually breached by the militants.
Police said multi-agency teams had been dispatched to the region to pursue the gangs planning more attacks.
National Police Service spokesman Michael Muchiri said they are making more efforts to address the menace that has been persistent despite operations to tame the same.
The terrorists have been attacking the area, affecting development at large.
Somalia has not had a stable government for decades, which has created room for the terror group to operate and cross into Kenya for attacks.
Security agents have mounted operations in the area in an effort to contain the terror-related attacks.
Officials say this has led to a reduction of such incidents in general.
Source: The Star
