County News

At least six killed in Mandera by Al Shabab militants in dawn attack

Published

8 years ago

October 6, 2016

MANDERA—At least six people are feared dead in Mandera after Somali-based Al shabaab militants attacked a residential area populated by non-locals.

The group claimed responsibility through the pro-Shabab Radio Andalus.

The attackers were heavily armed, but police reservists on patrol repelled the attackers, police statement said.

Armed police officers inspect the plot where the attack too place Thursday morning. Six people have so far been comfirmed dead. Photo/ Courtesy

Armed police officers inspect the plot where the attack took place Thursday morning. Six people have so far been confirmed dead. Photo/ COURTESY

They attacked at 2 am when the victims were asleep at a plot in Bula Publics Works.

“As they were escaping they also threw another grenade damaging a nearby building. This was in response to a shooting from a group of Police reservists who had responded,” the Standard quoted a senior police officer as saying.

There were 34 people in the plot at the time of the attack; six were killed, one is nursing gunshot wounds at the Mandera hospital and 25 others rescued. Two were missing at the time of publishing this update.

The area governor Ali Roba condemned the attack and grived with the victim’s family.

Mandera and other adjacent towns of Garissa and Wajir in the northern Kenya region that borders Somalia have often been targeted by Al shabaab.

The militants argue the incessant raids will continue until Kenya withdraws its troops from Somalia where they are part of the African Union force (AMISOM).

Kenya shares a porous border with Somalia which security experts say has contributed to the relentless Al-Shabaab assaults.