Six killed in al-Shabaab attack in north east Kenya
Security forces are struggling to secure the site because of landmines and booby traps
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Six people were killed in an attack by suspected Islamist militants from the Somali group al-Shabaab in north east Kenya on Thursday.
A public works in the town of Bulla, near the Somali border, was attacked at 2.45am while workers were sleeping.
“We have suffered another sad attack,” said Ali Roba, governor of Mandera county, where the incursion took place.
"Out of 33 non locals residing in one plot, six were shot dead and 27 rescued by our security officers manning the sector," Mr Roba told the Daily Nation, a Kenyan newspaper.
"Six lives are too many to lose. We condemn the attack which comes at a time when locals had started enjoying peace."
Mandera is in the extreme north east of the country. There are reports the victims were workers on controversial border fencing with Somalia, but The Independent has not been able to verify this information.
Landmines and booby traps apparently laid by the attackers have been hampering efforts to secure the bodies of the victims.
Kenyan targets have often been attacked by by al Shabaab, which says it will continue attacking the country until the Kenyan government withdraws its troops from Somalia, where they are part of an African Union force.
Mr Roba added: “If not for the quick response by our security forces, we would be talking of many more casualties now. From the nature and style of the attack, it will obviously be al-Shabaab.”
Al-Shabaab has not yet formally claimed responsibility.
Repeated in attacks in Kenya by the group have killed hundreds of people in the past three years and hammered the country's vital tourism industry.
Most significantly, the militant group's 2015 attack on Garissa University killed 148 people.
The assaults have often been in the northeast, near the long and porous border with Somalia, but the group has also struck coastal areas popular with tourists and the capital Nairobi, where al-Shabaab gunman attacked Westgate shopping mall in 2013.
Reuters contributed to this report
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments