Seven Police Officers Injured In Mandera IED Attack

Seven police officers were injured on Tuesday morning after their vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device (IED) along the Gadudia–Laga Road in Mandera East, Mandera County.

According to a police report filed at Khalalio Police Station, the attack occurred between Aresa and Khalalio, approximately four kilometers west of the station.

The officers, who were traveling in a Mandera Police Station vehicle (registration number GKB 885W), were on patrol duties when the device detonated beneath their vehicle.

The explosion caused significant damage, particularly to the rear of the police vehicle.

Six of the seven officers on board sustained varying injuries, including wounds to their legs and hands, as well as trauma to the forehead, chest, and eyes. One officer escaped the attack without injury.

The injured officers were promptly evacuated to Khalalio Health Centre for medical treatment.

The extent of their injuries has not yet been made public, and authorities have withheld the identities of the officers for security and privacy reasons.

Following the incident, the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) based in Mandera took over the investigation.

A full progress report is expected as the probe continues into the perpetrators and their possible links to terror groups operating in the region.

The attack underscores the persistent security threat in the northeastern region, which shares a porous border with Somalia.

Over the years, Mandera and neighboring counties have witnessed several similar incidents, often attributed to Al-Shabaab-linked militants.

In response to Tuesday’s attack, the National Police Service (NPS) confirmed that a multi-agency security team has been deployed to the area to track down the suspects behind the bombing.

This latest incident mirrors a similar attack in May this year in Daadab, Garissa County, where three police officers survived an IED explosion.

In that case, the device had been buried in a hole dug in the road and detonated as the officers passed by. Two civilians accompanying the officers also sustained injuries.

Security agencies continue to remain on high alert across North Eastern Kenya as militant groups intensify attacks targeting law enforcement officers and other government operatives.

Authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to security agencies as efforts to restore calm and security in the region intensify.