Several people are reported injured after an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) detonated opposite an Administration Police (AP) camp in Elwak Town , Mandera County on Monday morning, April 29, 2024.

Several people are reported to have suffered severe injuries as security agencies in the region mount investigations into the attack. Businesses including a number of local banks have since closed for the day.

"Dear Esteemed Members, we regret to inform you, that our Elwak Branch, Mandera County will remain closed today following an explosion in Elwak Town. We confirm that our branch and the staff in Elwak are safe.

"However, as we wait for the security agencies to advise on when operations can resume, we apologise for the inconvenience caused," a local bank said in a notice.

The incident comes a month after two police officers and a civilian were killed by an IED planted in a small café near the Mandera Police Station on March 25.

Confirming the incident, Mandera Police boss Samwel Mutunga stated that the attack was orchestrated by suspected Al Shabaab militants.

"We had a total of 15 people injured and in the process of taking some to hospital, including police officers, we lost two at that particular moment, one officer and one civilian. As they were being attended to, we lost two more police officers,” he said.

In yet another attack on January17, an IED concealed in a donkey-cart went off in Mandera killing a police officer while injuring two civilians.

Confirming the incident Mandera County Commissioner Amos Mariba declared it an act of cowardice, noting that the handler of the cart jumped before it detonated.

"The donkey operator jumped off before the device exploded at a border crossing point," Mariba noted.