Four hurt after gunmen raid Chinese building site in Kenya
- Chinese company hit by suspected al-Shabab militants is working on the Garissa-Modogashe highway, police said
Kenyan police have thwarted an attack by suspected Somali militants al-Shabab on a Chinese-owned construction company in an eastern region, an official said on Monday, days after the Islamist group killed 21 people in Nairobi.
Four people were wounded when gunmen opened fire at the site in Garissa county, not far from the Kenyan-Somali border, owned by a Chinese road construction company that is building the Garissa-Modogashe highway.
“The attackers were repulsed since the security officers were very alert. There was exchange of fire before the attackers escaped,” said county police commander David Kerina, adding that the injured person was a watchman’s wife.
“I believe the attackers, who were armed, might be Somali militants. They fled, but we have intensified security operations. So far no arrest has been made.”
Kerina said eight gunmen were involved. “We had four people who were injured during the incident and they were taken to hospital,” he said.
National police chief Joseph Boinnet said there had been another attempted attack on a second construction camp which was also thwarted.
“We suspect that the attackers are either dead or fled with serious injuries,” he said.