Mandera Residents Nab Suspect Linked To Matatu IED Attack In A Heroic Act

MANDERA, Kenya, Jan 31- In an act of heroism, residents of Mandera County on Monday nabbed a man they linked to an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack that involved a 14 seater matatu.

At least 7 people were killed, during an attack that has been linked to Al-Shabaab militants, said to be operating within the border County.

According to police and medics in the County, 13 others were sustained serious injuries.

Police told Shahidi News that the suspect was found at the scene of the incident.

“He was seeing running away from the scene,” a detective privy to the details of the incident told Shahidi News.

Outgoing North Eastern police boss Bunei Rono said a major operation has kicked off, in a bid to bring those involved to book.

Police are also looking for two vehicles said to have used an alternative route when they reached where an IED had been planted.

“How did they know there was an IED?” a senior detective posed. “We will get them and question over this. It is very suspicious.”

At least five other suspects are said to have been involved in the Monday morning attack. They were also armed with guns.

“They engaged the officers who first responded with gunfire,” National Police Spokesperson Bruno Shioso said.

Though a 14-seater, the matatu is said to have been overloaded. It was plying along Arabia-Mandera road.

The passengers were being ferried to Mandera town.

It comes at a time the country has heightened security and more so at the Capital Nairobi after several terror alerts were issued by European embassies. The United States embassy in Nairobi also issued a similar alert.

“People in Kenya are advised to exercise extreme vigilance and avoid frequenting these public places in the coming days, including this weekend,” the alert reads.

The United Kingdom had cautioned against non-essential movements in various parts of the country.

Areas the UK has pointed out include areas within 60km of the Kenya-Somali border and parts of Garissa County.

Also on their list is Mandera County (Excluding Mandera West Sub County), Lamu County (Excluding Lamu Island and Manda Island), areas of Tana River County North of the River Tana (up to 20km northwest of the  A3) and within 15km of the Coast from the Tana River down to the Galana (Athi-Galana-Sabaki) river.

Police headquarters said more police officers have been deployed within the city and more so in public spaces like bus terminus, shopping malls, and government buildings.

“The Anti-Terror Police Unit officers and other multi-agency security personnel continue to pacify the incident area following the morning IED attack on a passenger van at Hargrasu area along the Arabia-Mandera road,” the Police headquarters said.

Parts of Lamu are under a dusk to dawn curfew after a series of terror-related attacks, that have left more than 15 people killed.

The recent attack affected Judicial officers, still in Lamu. No one was killed during Wednesday’s evening attack.

The judicial officers had gone to Kipini mobile court and were on their way to Garsen town when they were attacked.

“The National Police Service assures the public that security in the country has been scaled through through different policing operations,” National Police Spokesperson Bruno Shioso said in a statement on January 28.

“The service has re-engineered her police units in line with modern policing dynamics, challenges and emerging threats. Security operations that ensure imminent attacks are forestalled proactively remain our priority.”