Kenya: Three Police Officers Dead As Vehicle Hits Explosive Device

At least three police officers are feared dead after their vehicle ran over an improvised explosive device (IED) in Garissa County on Tuesday.

A speeding vehicle carrying employees from the Border Patrol Unit was hit in the Alango-Arba area near Saretho.

Six more officers were also critically injured.

Dadaab Deputy County Commissioner Kipkirui Siele confirmed the event on Tuesday morning, saying he was waiting for additional information.

The injured were brought to a nearby hospital for treatment.

These types of attacks are typical in the area, as al-Shabaab terrorists penetrate security posts and attack at whim.

Police claim to have thwarted dozens of such plots.

The border territory (Kenya and Somalia) has been subjected to frequent attacks by extremists, who are sometimes aided by residents.

Terrorists sometimes set bombs on security agents' routes and attack them.

Since the overthrow of Siad Barre in 1991, Somalia has been without a stable government.

Last week, while discussing the situation of security in the country over the last 100 days, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki stated that they had increased their efforts to combat the threat of terrorism.

“We have disrupted many terror plots at source, neutralised and/or arrested dozens of suspected terrorists, and destroyed a huge cache of weapons and explosives that could have badly harmed our people if they were not intercepted.”

“The current crackdown on al-Shabaab terror cells in Somalia which is spearheaded by local community leaders with the support of the Federal Government of Somalia has tremendously weakened this militant group,” he said.

He stated that security authorities are on high alert to ensure that these terrorists do not cross into the country to hold this terror group at bay now that it is at its weakest.