GARISSA, KENYA — A violent assault on a police base in northeastern Kenya, near the Somali frontier, has resulted in the deaths of six law enforcement personnel, according to regional authorities. The incident occurred in Garissa County, prompting heightened security concerns in the area.
While no organization has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, Garissa County Commissioner Mohamed Mwabudzo indicated a strong suspicion of involvement by al-Shabab, the Somalia-based Islamist militant group. Speaking to the BBC, he stated that the attack’s methodology aligns with the group’s established tactics.
“The suspected militia used assorted weapons to overrun the camp,” Mwabudzo explained. He further described the attack as “guerrilla-style,” consistent with al-Shabab’s “pattern of cross-border raids aimed at destabilising the region.”
The ambush took place at approximately 05:30 local time on Sunday, as the officers were preparing for morning prayers. In addition to the fatalities, four officers sustained injuries and were subsequently transported to a hospital for treatment.
The targeted camp housed police reservists, local volunteers who supplement the regular police force in maintaining security in remote regions.
Al-Shabab has a history of conducting cross-border incursions into Kenya, targeting both military installations and civilian populations.
Al-Shabab, an affiliate of al-Qaeda, maintains control over significant portions of southern and central Somalia.
The group has been engaged in a protracted and violent insurgency against the Somali government for nearly two decades.
