Bomb blast in Mandera claims 4 people.

4 people were killed and 11 others were injured when their truck ran over a landmine in a hotspot area for attacks in Mandera County.

County Commissioner Fredrick Shisia said the pickup truck was heading to Mandera from Elwalk town.

“The vehicle operates on the road as a public service vehicle and was carrying 15 passengers when it [run over] what we suspect to be [a home-made bom]” he said

It was during midday when the incident occurred.

Two local community leaders commonly known as chiefs were among the victims of the explosion. The injured were taken to Lafey sub-county hospital according to commissioner Shisia

There is no immediate claim for the blast but in recent weeks Alshabab fighters have increased bombings in the county bordering Somalia.

Last month five police officers were killed when Mandera Governor Ali Roba’s convoy was attacked.

There is no linkage between the two incidents because the latest incident has not been claimed by Alshabab and investigations are under way for the governor’s attack.

The Commissioner pointed out that the areas between Fino and Lafey and Fino and Arabia locations are susceptible to attacks due to their nearness to the porous Somalia border.

These locations are situated on the eastern side bweteen Mandera and Elwak towns in Madena County.

Alshabab has developed new strategy of utilizing landlines and several vehicles belonging to Kenyan security officers have been caught in the explosions which claimed lives and destroyed trucks.

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