Another donkey c*rt e*******n in ki*ls 13 in Mandera County
At least 13 people were yesterday morning killed after an Improvised Explosive Device on a donkey cart went off in Elwak town, Mandera.
The blast took place opposite a local Administration Police camp.
In a related attack on January 19, an officer was killed and two others seriously injured when a bomb concealed within a donkey cart exploded at the cross border between Mandera town and Bula Hawa.
The dead include seven non-local Kenyans, three Ethiopians and three locals including taxi drivers.
The targeted premise houses non-locals who include teachers, nurses and police officers.
Following the attack, Equity Bank said they had suspended operations at their local branch.
“Our Elwak Branch, Mandera County will remain closed today following an explosion in Elwak Town. We confirm that our branch and the staff in Elwak are safe. However, as the security agencies continue with investigations,” the bank said on social media.
Reports indicate there was intelligence about the possible attack in the area. Security operations were immediately launched after the explosion but no arrest was made.
Officials said they believe the incident was set up by Al Shabaab terrorists or their remnants operating in the area. This is the latest such incident amid ongoing operations to tame terror activities there.
Mandera Governor Mohamed Khalif condemned what he termed heinous and tragic terrorist attack in Elwak town.
“Our collective commitment to matters of peace and security remains firm despite such cowardly attacks by terror outfits whose aim is to create fear and division.”
“I urge Wananchi to remain vigilant and share any information that may aid security agencies as they pursue perpetrators behind this senseless attack. I equally urge the security agencies to quickly act on any substantive information provided by the locals to avert possible terrorist attacks,” he said.
On April 13, gunmen suspected to be Al Shabaab militants raided a local hospital and terrorised guards at Elwak Referral Hospital near the Kenya-Somalia border.
