Suspected al-Shabab Attack Kills 6 in Mandera

Armed attackers believed to be members of al-Shabab have attacked a residential housing area in the Kenya town of Mandera near the border with Somalia.

Governor of Mandera County Ali Roba confirmed the attack on Twitter. He said six people were killed, and one other person was seriously injured.
"We grieve with our families," he said, adding "sadly 6 lives are too many to lose."

Roba confirmed that security forces responded to the attack and were able to rescue 27 people, including the injured person, from the housing area.

A resident in the town says the housing area that was attacked belongs to Kenya's ministry of public works. The tenants are either government workers or contractors working on controversial border fences, says the resident who requested anonymity.

It is reported that the attackers used grenades and then shot at the victims randomly.

As the attackers fled the scene they threw grenades and fired rocket propelled grenades according the resident. One of the RPGs reportedly hit a mobile money services shop. No casualties were reported from this explosion.

The mandera governor Ali Roba took to social media and said:
"It is yet again another sad day for the people of Mandera County as terrorists disrupt our peace in a cowardly attack this morning at 2:45a.m. Six out of the thirty three occupants of the attacked premise were killed and 27 rescued by our security forces. Six lives are too many to lose.We condemn the attack which comes at a time when locals had started enjoying peace. My appreciation to our security team for the timely response. To the families, friends and relatives of the victims, we mourn with you. The people of Mandera shares with you the pain and sorrow of losing your loved ones. May the Almighty God grant you the courage and strength you need during this trying moment."

Cross border attacks
This is the latest cross border attack by al-Shabab since Kenya intervened Somalia in 2011.

Last year Roba narrowly escaped an al-Shabab attack when his convoy was targeted near Mandera.

A security source says al-Shabab has trained about 200 new militants from Somalia and Kenya that it plans to dispatch to the coastal regions. The training took place near Badhadhe town in Lower Jubba region of Somalia according to the source.

Al-Shabab previously carried out several high profile attacks in the Lamu coastal county.