Soldiers foil attack planned on military base

A picture taken on November 4, 2008 shows Islamist fighters from the hard-line Shabab movement taking part in a military drill at a camp in the northern outskirts of Mogadishu

Military personnel in Garissa reportedly foiled a planned attack on their base by unknown assailants after they shot at a saloon car that had stopped near their gate on Saturday night.

The car had slowed down near the gate when security agents spotted it.

And when the security officers approached the vehicle to find out why it was there, the driver sped off, prompting the guards to start shooting.

Police said the car was damaged in the shooting but the driver did not stop. Regional CID boss Musa Yego said they were looking for the car.

He said they are on alert following the slow return of grenade and gun attacks in the town in the past weeks in which more than 10 people have been injured and two others killed.

"The level of alertness is generally higher and we are keen to stop these criminals who want to divide us," said Mr Yego.

On Friday night, six people were injured in a grenade attack in Garissa Ndogo and are recuperating at the Garissa General Hospital.

Officers say the six were at a market along the Ngamia road when men in a saloon car hurled grenades at them.