Police detonate two IEDs after blast targeting police in Mandera

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Police say criminals plant several explosive devices then trigger one to explode, in order to attract people who would be targeted by the subsequent explosions.

A bomb exploded in Mandera on Tuesday morning. The improvised explosive device went off at Border Point 3 along the Mandera-Somalia border.

Police later recovered and detonated two other IEDs found at the scene after the 10.30 am incident.

“There has been an explosion at Border Point 3 but no injuries nor damages have been reported so far but the police combed the area and found two other IEDs that we have managed to detonate safely,” said Mr Elvis Korir, the Mandera East Deputy County Commissioner.

The explosives, according to Mr Korir, were planted at night by people believed to be from the neighbouring Bula Hawa town in Somalia. They appeared to have been targeting police officers on patrol, he said.

“The area is used by our officers who patrol the border and it seems like they were the target only that they had not arrived,” said Mr Korir.

READ: Gunmen kill four more in Mandera night attack

A police officer who participated in detonating the two explosives said the criminals have devised new techniques to attract security teams to a scene. He said the criminals plant several explosive devices then trigger one to explode, in order to attract people who would be targeted by the subsequent explosions.

“Whenever there is an explosion there must be another behind it and we have discovered the first one is used to attract people and police to the scene and once we get there then the others go off causing injuries and even death,” said the officer who requested not to be named.

Several senior government officials have been in the Mandera county in efforts to tighten up security with the latest being Mr Victor Okioma a secretary for security from the Ministry of Interior who arrived in the county a few minutes after the explosion.

Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinett was in the county on Saturday to assess the situation after Governor Ali Roba's convoy was attacked by al-shabaab a day earlier, killing four people and leaving others injured.

Two more people were killed when gunmen sprayed four mechanics with bullets on Sunday evening while two sustained injuries.