Seven police officers were injured on Tuesday after their vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device (IED) along the Gadudia–Laga Road in Mandera East, Mandera County.
According to a police report filed at Khalalio Police Station, the attack occurred between Aresa and Khalalio, approximately four kilometres west of the station.
The officers were on board a Mandera Police Station vehicle, registration number GKB 885W, when the explosion went off.
The blast caused extensive damage to the rear section of the vehicle. Of the seven officers on board, six sustained various injuries, ranging from leg and hand wounds to trauma on the forehead, chest, and eyes. One officer managed to escape the incident unscathed.
The injured officers were immediately rushed to Khalalio Health Centre, where they are currently receiving medical attention. Authorities have not disclosed the severity of the injuries or the identities of those affected.
The Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) based in Mandera has since taken over the case, with a full progress report expected as the probe continues.
The region, which borders Somalia, has experienced multiple similar attacks in the past, often attributed to terror cells operating in the area.
The National Police Service (NPS) has since revealed that a police multi-agency team has been dispatched to the region to pursue the militants.
In May this year, three police officers survived an improvised explosive device (IED) attack in Daadab, Garissa County, after suspected militants planted the explosive on the road.
Garissa County Commissioner Naftali Koojo confirmed that the incident occurred at around 6am on May 8, even as security agencies continue to remain on high alert over the insurgents who have been targeting officers in the volatile North Eastern part of the country.
The suspected militants buried the IED in a hole they had supposedly dug within the road, according to videos and images obtained by Kenyans.co.ke.
During the incident, two civilians who were on board the police vehicle sustained soft tissue injuries and were rushed to the hospital alongside the officers for assessment.
