Two police officers injured in ambush by al Shabaab in Garissa

Two police officers were Monday, December 5, injured in an ambush by al Shabaab gunmen in Hagadera area, Garissa.

The officers were in a group of about 10 and were on patrol heading to a site to collect firewood in Yumbis when they were ambushed.

Police said the attack happened at about 1 pm.

The team from the elite Border Patrol Unit ran into the gunmen on the roadside and engaged them in a shootout.

A backup team arrived at the scene and managed to repulse the attackers.

Witnesses said the attackers were armed with Rocket Propelled Grenades, PKM and AK47 rifles.

Police said the attacked team repulsed the attackers and later recovered a Rocket Propelled Grenade 60mm with charge and used cartridges at the site.

The team later managed to safely detonate the bomb.

One officer was injured in the right ankle and the other in the hand.

A police lorry was damaged by bullets fired by the terrorists.

It is the latest such ambush to happen in the area.

North Eastern police boss George Seda said the injured officers were taken to a local hospital where they were admitted in stable condition.

He said they had deployed more personnel to patrol the area as part of efforts to deter further attacks.

Residents had indicated the terror group was roaming the area planning an attack.

The area is near the main Kenya-Somalia border which is usually breached by al Shabaab terrorists who attack at will.

Terrorists have been targeting security installations in a series of incidents and destroying them. They at times throw explosives which don’t explode.

The border region has borne the brunt of repeated attacks from the militants who are at times aided by residents.

The terrorists at times plant explosives on the routes used by security agencies and attack them.

Source: msn