Bomb Tied To Donkey Cart Explodes At Kenya-Somalia Border, Kills Police Officer

A police officer was killed on Thursday, January 18 after an improvised explosive device (IED) hidden in a donkey cart detonated at the Mandera border crossing point of Ina Bari in Mandera County.

Media reports indicated that two other officers were injured in the incident that occurred at 9.50 am immediately after the cart came to a stop at the border police checkpoint.

The two donkeys were crossing with luggage from Somalia’s side and were accompanied by a guide.

Before the explosion, the officers manning the border had stopped the animals with their guide for the usual inspection of contraband goods and other unwanted goods.

Scene after a donkey cart ferrying explosive materials was blown up on January 18, 2024. /PHOTO

Witnesses and police revealed that the explosion ignited a huge fire at the scene and during the process, the two donkeys were injured.

This prompted an operation in the area in vain. Police suspect the explosive was remotely controlled by al-Shabaab militants operating in the area.

“Authorities are swiftly responding to the incident, conducting investigations to ascertain the details surrounding the attack,” a police report read in part.

It added that security measures were being heightened to ensure the safety of the area and its residents in the wake of the incident.

Images seen by Viral Tea showed the cart completely blown to bits, save for its axle. The donkeys were seen badly injured.

Mandera has of late witnessed a reduction in terms of terror attacks but Thursday’s attack marked a sad moment for the security agencies in the area.

Police had assured that they have thwarted dozens of planned attacks in the country mostly in the northern region.

IEDs have become the most preferred weapons by the militants in the country due to their portability, easy assembling, and devastating impact.

On September 10, 2023, several Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldiers were injured after a vehicle they were travelling in ran over an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Lamu County.

The soldiers were on patrol along the Milimani Baure road when the incident occurred.