[UPDATED] At least 14 killed in Mandera, 11 others injured

By Abdikadir Okash (@abdikadirokash)

MANDERA—At least 14 quarry workers have been confirmed killed in Mandera Tuesday night in an attack that has all hallmarks of the Somali based militant group Al Shabab. 11 others have also been admitted to the Mandera Referral Hospital with gunshot wounds.Four of the injured workers are in critical condition. Kenya Red Cross Secretary General Abbas Gullet said four of those injures will be airlifted to Nairobi for specialised treatment.

Mandera County Commissioner Alex Nkoyo confirmed the attack, saying security officers were in pursuit of the attackers.

“The attackers hurled petrol bombs at the tents they were sleeping in (quarry workers) before they started shooting them as they fled,” he said on phone.

Mandera County Police Commander, Job Borongo said an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was at the scene of the attack and bomb experts are on their way to detonate it.

Resident around the neighbouhood say the rampage, which began shortly after midnight, continued for at least half an hour. The attack occurred at a village near Soko Mbuzi livestock market in the town.

Red Cross paramedics on their way from Nairobi to Mandera. (courtesy)

Reporters on the ground similarly confirmed that the quarry workers were sleeping in two different tents with the attack coming eight month after Al Shabab carried out similar attack at a quarry site on the outskirts of Mandera town. At least 30 people were killed in that attack.

The quarry attack was preceded by yet another that targeted a Nairobi-bound bus where over 25 passengers were slaughtered.

The attack comes at the wake of Al Shabab threat that it would scale up its attacks in the region over the holy month of Ramadan.