Six people killed, five injured in Mandera IED explosion

Smoke and dust captured at the scene where an IED exploded in Mandera. [File, Standard]

Six people have been killed and five injured after an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) detonated in Elwak town, Mandera county.

Police suspect members of Al Shabaab planted the IED outside an eatery on Monday.

According to police reports the area affected by the explosion is frequented by non-locals and is a base for casual labour recruitment.

"Suspected IED attack outside an eatery in Elwak town frequented by non-locals as a base for casual labour recruitment at about 7:12 am." read the OB report in part.

"Four people died on the spot and two others succumbed to injuries while three patients with various injuries are receiving treatment at Elwak Sub County Hospital," read the OB.

The incident happened about 100 meters away from Elwak Police Station.

County police commander Samuel Mutunga said the IED was planted along the Elwak-Nairobi road and detonated as a crowd of people gathered around the area.

Mutunga assured that a multi-agency security team has carried out a clearance patrol and police have launched investigations into the incident.

"We have launched investigations and I am assuring Elwak residents we are going to bring those perpetrators to book. We have some leads," he said.

A similar incident was witnessed on March 25 in a hotel near a police station in Mandera town killing four people on the spot.