After a long lull, Al-Shabaab operatives reportedly destroyed a communication mast in slaughter area of Rhamu, Mandera County, NEP Kenya leaving many out of service
This is the latest such incident to happen in the area after a long lull courtesy of the robust and persistent counterterrorism operations in Mandera County, and broadly along the border with Somalia.
The mast as per security officials was destroyed by a bomb that was set up by the terror operatives. The attackers escaped soon after the loud explosion as the six police reservists guarding the facility responded to the attack.
More security officers were deployed to pursue the attackers who were reported to have escaped towards the border. No injury was reported in the latest terror incident. The masts are usually manned by police officers in the region.
The Al-Qaeda associated Al-Shabaab have in many incidents targeted critical infrastructures in NEP Kenya such as the telecommunication masts, besides targeting security installations in the area. The Somali based terrorist group which is believed to have embedded pockets in the border counties has also in the past targeted public service vehicles, targeting teachers especially non-locals badly affecting education sector.
Citing the proximity with Somalia border, the militants usually cross at will and stage attacks in northeastern prefectures of Kenya before escaping back to Somalia. Al-Shabaab terrorists have been attacking places in the region, especially in Mandera, Wajir and Garissa counties after breaching security zones.
The NEP Kenya border region has borne the brunt of repeated attacks from the militants who are at times aided by locals and in what the terrorist group refers to as retaliatory operations to force Kenya to withdrawn its troops from Somalia.
