MANDERA, Kenya, Jan 31- An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack has left more than five people dead in Mandera and many wounded.
The Monday morning attack targeted a 14-seater Public Service Vehicle (PSV), which locals say had carried more people than its capacity.
The incident has been linked to Al-Shabaab terrorists operating within the border County.
“We will give an official figure of casualties,” a security officer in the area told Shahidi News.
The matatu was plying along the Arabia-Mandera route when the incident occurred.
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.
Mandera police boss George Seda said the death toll might increase, “because we are not sure of the exact number of passengers that were on board the vehicle.”
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.
“There could be more fatalities in the Mandera attack,” a security source in Mandera told Shahidi News.
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.”
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