Rocket attack kills 5 police in northern Kenya

By Magdalene Mukami

NAIROBI, Kenya

Five police officers were killed in a rocket attack by suspected al-Shabaab militants in northern Kenya on Monday, an official said.

The officers were escorting a bus from Mandera, a town that sits on the northeastern borders with Ethiopia and Somalia, to Nairobi when they were attacked near Dima.

Mandera Governor Ali Roba condemned the attack but said police were aware of planned al-Shabaab attacks in the area following warnings from locals.

Local Police Chief Job Boronjo also confirmed the attack.

Al-Shabaab attacks are common along Kenya’s northern border and bus passengers are sometimes kidnapped or killed.