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Suspected Al-Shabaab terrorists ambushed a patrol in northeastern Kenya on Tuesday, killing five people, including four police officers, local officials told AFP.
The attack occurred near the town of Lafey, approximately 10 kilometres from the Somali border in Mandera County, a region that has experienced a recent surge in militant activity.
According to a police report seen by AFP, four officers and a reservist from the elite Special Operations Group were killed during an encounter with suspected terrorists from the Somalia-based Al-Shabaab group while on patrol.
Kenyan police spokesman Michael Muchiri confirmed the authenticity of the report but provided no further details.
Two Mandera county officials, speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons, said the patrol was struck by a powerful blast before coming under heavy gunfire.
“In this area (Mandera), they (Al-Shabaab) have a strong presence. Everyone knows they are there,” one of them said.
Festus Chepkwony, the deputy prefect in the Lafey area, confirmed the attack and said it was believed to have been carried out by Al-Shabaab, though he could not independently verify the death toll.
The group has stepped up attacks around Lafey in recent months.
Kenyan media reported that Al-Shabaab terrorists attacked an SOG camp in Lafey in June.
Last week, they also struck the settlements of Arabia and Fino, about 60 kilometres north of the town along the Somali border.
“Al-Shabaab’s offensive operations have increased in the area and many residents are terrified,” one local official said.
