Kenya beefs up security along border with Somali after foiled attack

[Deeq A.]

Kenya has beefed up security along its porous border with Somalia after the police foiled an attack by suspected al-Shabab militants in northeast region on Monday.

Joseph Boinnet, inspector-general of police said security had been enhanced in the area with more personnel being deployed along the border to tame the terrorists.

“We have enhanced security at large as part of efforts to stop their activities near there,” he said, confirming four suspected terrorists were killed and several others injured during botched attack on a police camp in Ijara in Boni enclave.

Boinnet said unknown number of terrorists was targeting a camp occupied by the Administration Police’s Border Patrol Unit when they were repulsed in the dawn incident.

Boinnet said the terrorists were also targeting a communication mast for destruction.

The team of border patrol repulsed them fatally injuring four while several ran with serious wounds.

Boinnet said security had been enhanced in the area with more personnel being deployed along the border area to tame the terror activities.

“We have enhanced security at large as part of efforts to stop their activities near there,” he said. Witnesses said the officers were still patrolling the expansive forest in search for more bodies.

According to police officer based in the area, the militants wanted to carry out a simultaneous attack on the police camp and the near by Safaricom mast.

The militants usually destroy telecommunication mast to disrupt police response and communication in the area before they could inflict harm on the locals.

The incident comes barely two weeks after local government officials held a security meeting with the locals in the area which is near the Somali border to enhance security.

Ijara region has bore the brunt of al-Shabab militants due to its proximity to Boni forest and Somalia where the militants carry out attacks before escaping back.

A number of security personnel have died as a result of the attacks some that include improvised explosive devices placed on roadsides by al-Shabab militants.

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