Two Police Officers Killed, 10 Injured in Mandera Al-Shabaab Attack

Two police officers were killed and 10 others injured following an attack by suspected Al-Shabaab fighters in Mandera County on Saturday.

The security officers were en route to Nairobi from Mandera when the vehicle they were traveling in was sprayed with bullets at Bambo area.

Confirming the 9:00 am ambush, North Eastern Regional Police Commander Rono Bunei said those injured were airlifted to Nairobi for further treatment.

“The vehicle was heading to Nairobi from Mandera but on the way, the suspected militants ambushed the track. The attack left two of our officers dead,” Bunei said.

He added: “The driver drove through the deadly shootout and managed to make it through. If he could have stopped most likely we could have witnessed more victims and casualties.”

It is alleged that the attackers tried to blow the police truck with a rocket-propelled grenade but missed, prompting them to use firearms.

"They sprayed the lorry as it paced past where they had staged the ambush. Unfortunately, we lost two officers and others were injured. It could have been worse,” an officer who survived the attack is quoted by The Star.

The truck’s tyres were deflated but the driver managed to control the vehicle for nearly 20 kilometers.

Bunei said law enforcement officers have been deployed to the area to pursue the attackers.