This move comes just months after long-time President Abdel-Aziz Bouteflika resigned from office following nationwide protests. | Read More</s>Eight Kenyan police officials were killed in the eastern part of the country on Sunday after their vehicle hit an improvised explosive device planted by Somalia’s al Shabaab militant group, police said.

Al Shabaab is fighting to topple Somalia’s government, establish their own rule based on their strict interpretation of Islamic law and drive out of the country peacekeepers deployed by the African Union.

The militants frequently launch attacks in neighbouring Kenya to pressure it to withdraw its troops which form part of the peacekeeping force.

Charles Owino, Kenya’s police spokesman, told Reuters that five administration police and three reservists were killed “while protecting our borders and security of the county”.

Abdiasis Abu Musab, al Shabaab’s military operations spokesman, said the group killed 10 Kenyan soldiers in the attack.

Earlier this month, five Kenyan police officers were killed in a similar attack in the same region.</s>NAIROBI: Eight Kenyan police officials were killed when their vehicle hit an improvised explosive device planted by Somalia's al Shabaab militant group, police said.

The militants took eight weapons – six AK47 assault rifles and two G3 battle rifles – and 510 rounds of ammunition from the eight officers killed on Sunday in the east of the country, a police report said.

Al Shabaab is fighting to topple Somalia's government, establish their own rule based on their strict interpretation of Islamic law and drive out of the country peacekeepers deployed by the African Union.

The militants frequently launch attacks in neighbouring Kenya to pressure it to withdraw its troops which form part of the peacekeeping force.

Charles Owino, Kenya's police spokesman, told Reuters that the five administration police and three reservists were killed while protecting the country's borders.

Abdiasis Abu Musab, al Shabaab's military operations spokesman, said the group killed 10 Kenyan soldiers in the attack.

Earlier this month, five Kenyan police officers were killed in a similar attack in the same region.</s>, NAIROBI, Kenya, Jun 17 – Eight police officers were killed in an Al Shabaab attack in Wajir County on Sunday.

According to local police, five of those killed were Administration Police officers while the other three were Police Reservists.

North Eastern Regional Coordinator Muhammad Saleh told Capital Newsbeat that the officers died when their vehicle hit an Improvised Explosive Device at the Bojigaras area.

He blamed Al Shabaab militants for the attack, and said more security personnel have been deployed there.

Three attacks have been carried out by the Somalia-based militant group in the region since the beginning of 2018.

The first attack took place in January when a Safaricom communication mast was destroyed, paralysing communication in the country. More recently, on February 16, 2018 two teachers and one of their spouses were killed in Wajir, after suspected Al-Shabaab militants attacked the Qarsa Primary School.

During the attack, another teacher sustained bullet wounds on his hand.</s>A Kenyan legislator says eight police officers have died in his constituency after the vehicle they were travelling in was hit by a roadside bomb planted by suspected extremists.

Ahmed Bashane sent condolences to the families of those who died in the attack in Tarbaj in Wajir County in northeastern Kenya. No group has claimed responsibility for the bomb but suspicion has fallen on Somalia’s extremist group al-Shabab which has carried out a wave of attacks in Kenya since 2011. Al Shabab has vowed retribution because Kenya sent troops to Somalia to fight the group waging an insurgency against Somalia’s weak U.N.-backed government.

Earlier this month six police officers were killed when their truck run over a roadside bomb in Liboi, Lamu County. Authorities blamed al-Shabab for that attack.</s>At least eight security personnel were Sunday killed after a vehicle they were traveling in hit a set improvised bomb in Bojigaras area, Wajir County.

The victims included five Administration Police Officers and three police reservists.

ALSO READ: Where guns, bows and arrows are a child’s way of life

Police authorities said the vehicle that the deceased were using ran over an Improvised Explosive Device which sent it flying.

Witnesses said the vehicle was badly damaged killing the victims who are on board.

North Eastern regional coordinator Muhammad Saleh said those behind the attack escaped soon after the incident.

He said preliminary findings pointed to Somalia’s Al-Shabaab terror gang.

Avoid becoming a victim of Fake News. Subscribe to the Standard Group SMS service by texting 'NEWS' to 22840.

“The attackers escaped soon after the blast and we suspect Al-Shabaab is behind it,” he said.

A reinforcement was immediately sent to the scene but nothing was salvaged in terms of life.

It came in the wake of warnings of planned attacks by the terror group.

Authorities had last week warned the terrorists planned to stage attacks ahead of the end of Ramadan period.

ALSO READ: Grief as two Fijians, Fly Sax plane pilot buried

On June 6 at least 6 paramilitary personnel were killed and three others injured when their vehicle ran over an explosive at Liboi, Garissa County.

The scene of the attack in Harhar area is less than two kilometers from the main Kenya-Somalia border.

The General Service Unit officers were patrolling the border aboard a truck when it ran over the Improvised Explosive Device (IED).

Witnesses said the explosive killed the five and badly damaged the vehicle. The three who survived were badly wounded. They were all from Harhar GSU camp. Other reports said they were pursuing contraband sugar when they were hit.

The deaths were the latest and came after a long lull from terror related incidents that has been experienced in the area at large.

There were indications of imminent attacks in the area. Locals reported to authorities of movements that indicated Al-Shabaab terror group was planning an attack.

“The indications were there because among others, elderly people had been moved from the area to Garissa and a number of youths had not returned to the area. Al-Shabaab militants were also sighted there,” said an official based in the area.

ALSO READ: African boy without ears denied entry into UK

Police had issued a security alert over possible attacks in the country by the Somalia based terror group during the Ramadhan season.

Police spokesman Charles Owino, said security agencies had obtained credible intelligence suggesting that Al-Shabaab are planning to carry out attacks in various parts of the country during the World Cup period and after the Ramadan period.

The Liboi incident was the first one since the beginning of the Ramadan period.

He asked Kenyans to be extra vigilant especially in populated public places such as hotels, church, bus stages and schools during the World Cup period.

“Though the capability of Al-Shabaab has been greatly downgraded over time, we have credible intelligence suggesting that the militia group is planning to carry out further attacks in the coun…</s>Five Kenyan police officers and three reservists were killed Sunday when their vehicle hit a homemade landmine in Wajir, northeast Kenya, a government official said.

 

 “We had an attack this afternoon and eight officers have been killed,” said northeastern regional coordinator, Mohamud Ali Saleh, the area’s top security official.

Saleh said the bombing occurred in Bojigaras, in the east of Wajir county.

“We suspect the involvement of the Shabaab and we are looking for them,” he added.

The use of improvised explosive devices against police and military patrols in the northern and eastern border regions with Somalia have become relatively common.

Over the past year, Shabaab insurgents, based in Somalia, have claimed several such attacks killing dozens of Kenyan police and soldiers.</s>Alwaght- At least eight Kenyan police officers were killed in the eastern part of the country on Sunday after their vehicle hit an improvised explosive device allegedly planted by Somalia’s al Shabaab militant group.

Police authorities said the vehicle that the deceased were using ran over an Improvised Explosive Device which sent it flying.

Charles Owino, Kenya’s police spokesman, told Reuters that five administration police and three reservists were killed “while protecting our borders and security of the county”.

North Eastern regional coordinator Muhammad Saleh told Anadolu Agency: "We are pursuing the attackers who escaped from the area soon after the attack that killed the paramilitary personnel."

The attack comes just days after six security officers were killed in a similar way in Liboi, Garissa County near the porous Kenya-Somali border.

Al Shabaab is fighting to topple Somalia’s government, establish their own rule based and drive out of the country peacekeepers deployed by the African Union.

The militants frequently launch attacks in neighboring Kenya to pressure it to withdraw its troops which form part of the peacekeeping force.

Abdiasis Abu Musab, al Shabaab’s military operations spokesman, said the group killed 10 Kenyan soldiers in the attack.</s>"We had an attack this afternoon and eight officers have been killed," said northeastern regional coordinator, Mohamud Ali Saleh, the area's top security official.

Saleh said the bombing occurred in Bojigaras, in the east of Wajir county.

"We suspect the involvement of the Shabaab and we are looking for them," he added.

The use of improvised explosive devices against police and military patrols in the northern and eastern border regions with Somalia have become relatively common.

Over the past year, ‘Shabaab’ insurgents, based in Somalia, have claimed several such attacks killing dozens of Kenyan police and soldiers.
Eight Kenyan security forces officers are killed after their vehicle hits a bomb in the country's east. Local authorities ascribe the killings to al-Shabaab.