12 people were left dead the Mandera after suspected Al-Shabaab gunmen attacked a lodge with explosives.
Police confirmed the attack adding that, among the dead are ten people who were visiting the area for set book performances in schools and a caretaker who is a local.
Further police report confirmed that ten people who include those wounded have been rescued from the lodging that had many occupants.
However, the rescue mission was hampered following fear that there could be booby traps inside as police are worried that more casualties could be trapped inside.
“We don’t know how many people are still trapped there in the rubble but efforts to reach them are ongoing,” said an officer on the ground who asked not to be named.
The gunmen believed to be al-shabaab militants escaped towards Somalia border as police responded to the bombing.
The attack comes barely three weeks after six people lost their lives in an attack by armed Al-Shabaab militiamen on a residential area in Mandera Town.
Pro-Shabab media outlets say the latest incident “killed Christian Kenyans” who were not from the local area.
Confirming the reports, Regional Commissioner North Eastern of Mandera Attack said that an improvised explosive device (IED) bomb exploded in the hotel
“Early this morning, at around 3:30a.m., an IED bomb exploded at the Boshari Hotel in Mandera town. Part of the
building collapsed, killing at least 12 people,” said Regional Commissioner – North Eastern, Amb. Mohamoud Saleh
“Security officers on patrol responded immediately, cordoned the area and began search and rescue operations. All
occupants at the hotel were evacuated and 6 have been rescued alive from the debris so far. Search and rescue operations are ongoing at the site,” Amb. Mohamoud Saleh added
Preliminary investigations into the attack have so far yielded several leads for the police, and investigations are
underway.
Saleh further added that Mandera Town, is usually under 24-hour security surveillance, and bomb experts had arrived on site to establish the source of the explosive and gather further evidence.