Al Shabaab attack in Mandera repulsed by the police

Security officers in Mandera county have repulsed an attempted terror attack on their camp at Manza in Sheikh Barrow on Thursday morning. (Courtesy)

MANDERA—Security officers in Mandera county have repulsed an attempted terror attack on their camp at Manza in Sheikh Barrow on Thursday morning.

Speaking to journalist, Lafey deputy county commissioner Erick Oronyi said Administration police were alert at the time of the attack.

“The attackers started by hurling explosives into the camp before shooting at officers but luckily no one was injured,” he said.

“We are always on high alert because the enemy is waiting for an opportunity to strike,” added Mr Oronyi.

The  7:30am suspected Al shabaab attack was meant to ambush  police while they were asleep.

The Somali-based militants have in the recent past staged attacks targeting security officials in areas around the Kenya-Somalia border.

On Tuesday,  Al-Shabaab militants attacked Hamey police post in Liboi village near the Kenya-Somalia border at 2am.

The militants raided the post from different corners and had a heavy exchange of fire with officers based at the station.

Four officers sustained minor injuries and an Administration Police officer remained unaccounted for  following the attack.

Garissa County Commissioner Joshua Chepchieng stated that though the security officials managed to repulse, the attackers made away with a police car, guns, several rounds of ammunition and destroyed a safaricom communication masts in the area leaving locals with no network.

“We have dispatched officers to reinforce the camp and pursue the attackers. We also have an helicopter doing aerial surveillance and supporting the ground teams,” said Mr Chepchieng .

Al-Shabaab targets Kenya more than other frontline states because of the opportunity spaces linked to Kenya’s international status and visibility, its relatively free and independent media that widely publicizes terrorist attacks, a highly developed and lucrative tourist sector that provides soft targets, the comparatively high number of Kenyan foreign fighters within the group’s ranks, the presence of terror cells in Kenya, expanding democratic space, and high levels of corruption.