Six people were killed when suspected Somali militant group al-Shabaab attacked a residential building in Bulla public works, Kenya’s border town of Mandera. The incident occurred at about 2am on Thursday, October 6th, as the tenants were asleep. 33 people were in the building at the time of the attack. One was seriously injured and two missing.
“Out of the 33 non locals residing in one plot, six were shot dead and 27 rescued by our security officers manning the sector,” Governor Ali Roba said.
The militants used a grenade to break the entrance before they shot at those who were sleeping. They escaped soon after the incident,” the police said.
As they attackers, said to be wearing KDF uniform, were fleeing, they threw another grenade which destroyed a nearby building. There was an explosion as police attempted to get into the house to retrieve the bodies, ripping off on of the roof tops.
Police said landmines planted in compound were delaying their attempts to retrieve bodies of the dead. Bomb experts were expected to detonate the explosives.
Mandera County Commissioner Frederick Shisia say they are working on switching off communication networks to allow police enter the building as they fear more explosives are in the house.
Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the attack and vowed to continue ‘bloodbath’ in Kenya as long as KDF remain in Somalia.