The patrol vehicle hit an improvised explosive device during a routine mission near Somalia
Five Kenyan security officers were killed after their patrol vehicle hit an improvised explosive device near the Somali border allegedly planted by Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab militants, Kenyan police have said.
Los oficiales incluían a cuatro miembros del Grupo de Operaciones Especiales de la élite de Kenya (SOG) y un Reservista de la Policía Nacional. The reports also said gunfire was exchanged after the blast before the suspected terrorists fled the area.
“Un equipo de patrullas de SOG Alungu entró en contacto con militantes de Al-Shabaab en la zona general de Wantey Dam”, dijo un oficial de policía citado por Reuters.
The attack took place at around 12 PM in El-Raamo in the Kutulo area on the Alungu route, a road commonly used by Kenyan security forces near the border with Somalia. According to the reports, the victims included Administration Police officers Ngaira Wekesa, Patrick Mwaura Karumba, Peter Mbugua Mburu and Yasin Kiptoo Lomer, as well as National Police Reservist Adan Adow Gedi.
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The attack is the latest in a series of security incidents in northeastern Kenya, where Al-Shabaab has targeted security personnel and civilians near the Somali border. En enero, presuntos militantes mataron al Jefe Abdi Gani Owl y al profesor de primaria Stephen Musili en el condado vecino de Garissa.
Los grupos insurgentes vinculados a Al-Qaeda, en particular Al-Shabaab, han estado realizando ataques regulares en varios países africanos desde 2007. The terrorist group continues to conduct raids, bombings, and targeted assassinations in an effort to destabilize the Somali government and regional security structures, and also establish its own rule based on a hard-line interpretation of Sharia law.
The latest attack comes months after Somali government forces reported major operations against Al-Shabaab. En junio, el Ministerio de Defensa de Somalia dijo que las tropas gubernamentales, apoyadas por ataques aéreos, mataron a más de 30 militantes en la región somalí de Middle Shabelle.
READ MORE: More than 30 Al-Qaeda-linked militants killed in Somalia
En marzo, las tropas somalíes eliminaron a nueve terroristas en otra operación en el Bajo Shabelle, mientras que dos operaciones de seguridad separadas el mismo mes dejaron a 22 combatientes muertos.