Police arrest four over grenade attacks

By Adow Jubat

Police have arrested four men suspected to be behind the soaring spate of grenade attacks in North-Eastern region.

The suspects, who are of Somali extraction, are blamed by police of spearheading attacks on civilians and security officers.

Confirming the incident, North-Eastern police boss Leo Nyongesa said arresting the four is a breakthrough against the war on terror. He added the suspects will help security personnel in investigating Al Shabaab operations.  “We have apprehended four suspected Al Shabaab operatives in Hagardera, one of the three refugee complex in Dadaab District of Garissa County,” the PPO said on Sunday.

The four are not registered as refugees and were apprehended after being traced to their hideout — an unused makeshift house in Hagardera refugee camp. They were in possession of materials for making explosives.

Six people were on Saturday night injured in two simultaneous grenade attacks by suspected members of Al Shabaab.

The attacks at Ifo in Dadaab camp and at a hotel in Wajir town occurred at 8.30pm and 8.40pm respectively.

heavy injuries

In the Ifo attack, assailants numbering about five hurled a hand grenade into a construction site at Horseed Primary School. The assailants were targeting non-Somali masons.

The explosive injured five labourers, who were at the time preparing supper in one of the classes under constructions.

“Assailants of unknown number have thrown two hand grenades into a primary school run by African Development Emergency Organisation injuring five masons,” described Nyongesa.

He said the causalities were rushed to Ifo main hospital. Two of them sustained heavy injuries, while the others escaped with minor injuries.

In the Wajir attack, a suspected Al Shabaab assailant hurled a hand grenade into Dubia hotel.

The hotel is adjacent to a pub, which was attacked last year  and is frequented by Government officials.