Suspected al-shabaab militants on this morning raided Fino town in Mandera county and destroyed a communication mast after engaging police officers on duty in a shootout. Authorities said the gunmen escaped after the incident and no injury was reported in the 2am incident. But the fighting resurfaced six hours later after the gunmen clashed with a reinforcement that was pursuing them. The fighting continued for hours with witnesses saying there were casualties. Authorities in the area said they drove the gang towards Somalia border. The attack left many locals with no communication as the mast they rely on was destroyed. Police said the gang first engaged officers who were near there in a shootout as another group planted improvised explosive devices on the targeted masts. This is the second incident to happen in the area targeting communication masts. In June, another mast was destroyed in Damasa area by the same group