SAD: Al-Shabaab attack kills 12 in Mandera (photos)

People gather at the scene of an attack in the town of Mandera near the border with Somalia.

An extremist attack targeting non-Muslims along the northeast border with Somalia on Tuesday has killed 12 people.

Militants belonging to the Somali-based militant group al-Shabab attacked the Bisharo Guest House, a lodging in Mandera County that hosts out-of-towners, with grenades and IEDs, Mandera County commander Job Boronjo said.

"It is true there was an attack. Rescue efforts are ongoing," he said.

Al-Shabab immediately claimed responsibility for the attack in a message posted on its telegram messaging channel. The group says the attack targeted "Christian workers."

The attack Tuesday marks the latest in several cross-border attacks attributed to al-Shabab since Kenya intervened in Somalia in 2011.

Earlier this month, six people were killed during a similar attack on visitors in Mandera when suspected al-Shabab militants attacked a residential housing area.

In November 2014, militants killed 28 non-Muslims after hijacking a bus in Madera County.

Some of the photos after the cut...