Hunt launched after al Shabaab attack police post at Kenya-Somalia border

Police and military officials are pursuing gunmen who attacked a police post at the Kenya-Somalia border and escaped with a police vehicle and mortar.

The incident happened in Diif Town, Wajir South in Wajir County. Police say three officers were injured and the gang believed to be al-Shabaab militants escaped with a landcruiser and mortar.

They also burnt part of the structures that were at the station and the small town before escaping. Among the structures burnt was a chief’s kiosk.

The incident happened at about 3 a.m. Sunday.

Police officers on the ground said the attackers, who were about 100, shot sporadically while targeting the 18 officers who were present.

The station usually has 24 officers but 18 were present at the time of the attack.

“We engaged them for two hours before they left in one of the cars that was at the station and drove off with their casualties. We had three injuries that are not serious,” said an officer who asked not to be named.

The officer added that many of the attackers were injured and were loaded into the land cruiser before they escaped.

This is the latest attack after a lull of almost four months. Efforts to trace the car are ongoing. Most of the attacks are usually linked to the militant group.

The ambushes had been concentrating in Mandera and Lamu regions. The attack in Wajir attack was a surprise, officials said.

Police headquarters said they were waiting for full report on the incident before commenting.

In January, at least six officers were killed and three injured when an Administration Police lorry ran over an Improvised Explosive Device in Mangai area, Lamu County.

The militants say they target the Kenyan security forces as part of efforts to push them to pull out of Somalia. KDF went to Somalia in 2011 before being rehated to Amisom in February 2012.

KDF have liberated 120 towns from Al-Shabaab militants in the period including Kismayo.