Al-Shabaab militants destroy communication equipment in Kenya

MANDERA, Somalia - Somalia-based Al-Shabaab militants on Monday destroyed communication equipment in the northeastern part of Kenya, a strategy usually employed when the team is preparing to carry out attacks against security officers in the region.

According to official reports, the militants uprooted communication equipment on Monday evening in Mandera County which is found near the border of Kenya and Somalia. It's the first major attack by the militants in the country in as many months.

Security officials said they heard a loud bang from the area on Monday morning and when they checked, they established the installation had been destroyed by a bomb that was set up by the militants, the report indicates.

After the incident, the attackers escaped to Somalia as security guards within the vicinity responded swiftly to the attack. The number of the attackers is not yet known but security officials estimate that the militants could have been many given the nature of the attack.

Northeastern police boss George Seda said they had deployed more police officers to pursue the attackers who escaped towards the border, the Star reported. There were no notable injuries but the officials said the telecommunication mast was destroyed.

Police officers in Kenya usually guard telecommunication masts in northeastern given frequent destructions by the Al-Shabaab militants. Previously the militants have destroyed the equipment to frustrate communications within the area.

The terrorists have also been planting explosives on the routes used by the security agencies. More personnel have since been sent to the area and operations by the Border Patrol Unit heightened to tame the surge.

Kenya Defense Forces [KDF] troops domiciled in the region are currently pursuing the militants to their hideouts but reports indicate they have since crossed to Somalia. There are close to 3,500 KDF soldiers in the Horn of Africa country.

GAROWE ONLINE