Kenya special forces battle Al-Shabaab in a botched IED attack in Lamu

LAMU, Kenya, Dec 20- A team of special forces from the Border Patrol Unit (BPU) escaped death by a whisker after their vehicle was targeted by Al-Shabaab militants in Nyangoro area, Lamu County.

This is the latest such attempt on security forces after a lull of almost eight months in the area.

The militants operate from the neighboring Somalia which is facing a crisis over terror related incidents.

Police said the attackers escaped soon after their failed Sunday attempt to hit the vehicle using an improvised explosive device.

The targeted vehicle was escorting buses along Lamu-Garsen route when the incident happened.

The officers responded and a heavy exchange of fire ensued.

The unknown attackers who were heavily armed had laid an ambush on the right side of the road at the scene as you face Gamba general direction, police said.

 The vehicles in the convoy which were behind the lead escort car were stopped as the officers battled the armed men.

The attackers disappeared into the bushes as police engaged them.

Passengers buses from Lamu to Mombasa are escorted from Mokowe to Gamba.

This prompted an operation in the area by combiner police in vain.

Coast police boss Gabriel Musau said no injuries or damages that were reported in the foiled incident.

“No casualties were reported. They escaped after their attempt failed but we are pursuing them,” said Musau.

He added they had enhanced operations in the area to tame any planned attack.

This was after locals expressed fears the incident was an indication the terrorists or their remnants are operating within the area.

Al-Shabaab had rendered the place unbearable for both locals and non locals following a series of attacks they launched in the area in the past four years.

This prompted the government to launch a military operation in the area to rid the attacks through Operation Linda Boni.

This has seen rehabilitation of major roads and other social amenities in less than four years.

The members of the terror group had been carrying out attacks on locals and targeting passenger vehicles and security personnel.

For instance, in January 2020, three people were killed and another three seriously wounded in an ambush on a bus heading from Mombasa to Lamu.

This prompted a major security operation in the area.