Al Shabaab IED Attacks in Mandera Leaves 5 Police Officers Seriously Injuries
At least 5 police officers were on Friday injured when they were attacked by al Shabaab militants in Banisa, Mandera County.
Gathogo Wanjiru 
According to Witnesses, the attackers had set an Improvised Explosive Devise on the road which hit a speeding police vehicle.
The explosion caused the vehicle to be badly damaged and burnt. The vehicle was carrying at least 15 police officers moving from Banisa towards Mandera.
This prompted a major police operation in the area with authorities saying they were pursuing the attackers who escaped towards the nearby Kenya-Somalia border.
Deputy Police IG Edward Mbugua said there were casualties on the side of the attackers and a major operation to pursue them was ongoing.
“There was an attack by suspected al Shabaab militants in Banisa this morning (Friday) near the border and an operation is ongoing to get them,” said Mbugua.
A witness says some of the injured police officers were in critical condition.
The attack comes in the wake of reports the militants were marshaling bases in parts of Mandera and Lamu counties in readiness for attacks against Kenyan officials.
This has affected among others the education sector, forcing tens of teachers who are non-locals to flee.
