Three police officers have been killed and other three wounded after their vehicle was hit by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Darkale, Mandera County on Friday, May 21, 2021.
The officers are from a special operation group and were on a routine security patrol when the attack occurred.
An earlier statement released by the National Police Service (NPS) did not mention the deaths, reporting only five injuries.
File image of a Kenyan Police vehicle hit by an Al Shabaab IED. |Photo| Courtesy|
Read More
Deputy Inspector General of Police Edward Mbugua had stated that the officers were on the trail of suspected Al Shabaab militants when the attack happened, stating that the assailants had suffered major casualties as well.
"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,” he had said.
"The ambush which took place at 6 a.m in Banisa during routine border patrol, has unfortunately left five of our police officers injured and they are currently receiving medical attention," Senior Assistant General of police Miriam Muli had stated.
NPS assured residents of the area that officers had seized control of the situation.
"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 the statement.
