3 Police Officers Killed, Several Injured in Mandera Al-Shabaab Attack

Three police officers were killed after a roadside explosive hit the vehicle they were traveling in along Banisa-Tabaka road in Mandera County.

The officers were on a routine border patrol early Friday morning when they were ambushed by suspected Al-Shabaab militants near Darkale center.

A shootout ensued between the insurgents and security forces, resulting in many officers being seriously injured.

A report on the incident indicates that the law enforcement officers were ambushed at around 6 am before one of their vehicles ran over a planted IED. 

The wounded officers were treated at the scene by medics from Banisa sub-county hospital before being airlifted to Nairobi for further care.

Confirming the attack, the National Police Service (NPS) said the area had been secured and more security officers were deployed to pursue the attackers, who advanced towards the Somalia border.

"We wish to assure residents of our sustained vigilant presence even as the operation to apprehended and bring the perpetrators of the crime to justice," NPS said in a statement.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Edward Mbugua said: "A multi-agency team of security officers are in hot pursuit of suspected Al-Shabaab terrorists who sustained heavy casualties after engaged Kenyan police in an exchange of fire along the Mandera-Somalia border.”

The incident comes days after three Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) soldiers died and others wounded after their truck hit a landmine along the Bodhei-Kiunga road in Lamu on Tuesday. The explosive is suspected to have been planted by Al-Shabaab militants.