By Magdalene Mukami

NAIROBI, Kenya

Two police officers and three civilians were killed on Friday by al-Shabaab militants in northeastern Kenya near the porous border with Somalia.

Confirming the incident to local media, Mandera South police chief Charles Chacha said that suspected al-Shabaab militants opened fire at policemen who were guarding Equity Bank in the town of Elwak.

A police officer who spoke to Anadolu Agency on condition of anonymity due to restrictions to speaking to the media said: “The gunmen first killed the police officers manning the bank’s entrance before shooting indiscriminately and killing three civilians. We were quick to respond, thus averting more loss of lives.”

The police officer said that security forces were closely pursuing the attackers.

Mandera has witnessed many attacks carried out by al-Shabaab militants due to its close proximity to the Somali border. This May, five police officers guarding the Mandera County governor were killed in a roadside bomb attack in Simo. The governor survived the attack, which was later claimed by al-Shabaab militants from Somalia.