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3 injured in blast in Kenya's border region

Xinhua, December 2, 2016 Adjust font size:

Three people were injured after a fuel tanker ran over an improvised explosive device (IED) which was planted on the road in Mandera County of northeast Kenya on Friday.

Mandera police commander Job Boronjo said the incident at 7: 30 a.m left a boy, a driver and another occupant injured.

"We believe the criminals are on revenge mission as our officers are daily combing the area in pursuit of Al-Shabaab elements and their sympathizers operating in the area (Kutullo and Chuma Mbili)," Boronjo told journalists in Mandera.

He said the tanker was completely damaged due to the impact of the IED and spilled fuel on the road. The three were slightly injured and taken to hospital.

Boronjo said police suspect the IED was targeting police officers patrolling the area between Kutullo and Chuma Mbili but the tanker coincidentally ran over it.

On Wednesday, a bomb was planted near the same area between Elwak and Dabacity targeting police officers patrolling the area. The truck did not run over the IED and all the officers escaped unhurt.

Boronjo linked the increased wave of bomb planting and IEDs in the area to a police operation two weeks ago where police recovered a cache of weapons left behind by fleeing Al-Shabaab.

Boronjo said a platoon of elite paramilitary police officers has been moved to the area to help flush out terrorists and criminals behind the serial attacks and those hiding in the area.

Boronjo said no suspect has been arrested in the two attacks but said security operation is underway to nab those behind terror incidents in Mandera. Endit