AP officer killed after police vehicle runs over IED in Lamu

An AP officer was on Christmas day killed when a vehicle they were travelling in drove over an explosive suspected to have been planted by Al-Shabaab militants along the Hindi-Bodhei road in Lamu. GOOGLE MAPS

What you need to know:

  • Linda Boni Operation Director Mr James ole Serian said apart from the dead officer, nobody was injured.
  • Mr Serian dismissed earlier reports which had indicated that one AP officer was killed while three others were critically injured and others reported missing in the morning attack.
  • Sources claimed that the vehicle was also burnt to ashes by the suspected Al-Shabaab militants before they escaped into the expansive Boni Forest.
  • Inspector-General of Police Joseph Boinnet recently gave warnings of possible terrorist attacks this festive season.

One Administration Police officer was Friday morning killed when a vehicle they were travelling in drove over an explosive suspected to have been planted by Al-Shabaab militants along the Hindi-Bodhei road in Lamu.

The officers were said to be heading to Bodhei, which is at the border between Lamu and Garissa when the incident happened at around 8am.

Confirming the incident, Linda Boni Operation Director Mr James ole Serian said nobody was injured and that police were pursuing the suspects responsible for the attack.

Mr Serian dismissed earlier reports which had indicated that one AP officer was killed while three others were critically injured and others reported missing in the morning attack.

“It is true. One police officer died while the rest of the officers that were in the vehicle came out safely. Nobody is critically injured. No one is missing. We are pursuing the suspects responsible for the attack,” said Mr Ole Serian in a text sent to the Nation.

Sources who talked to the Nation on condition that they are not named since they are not authorised to talk to the media, however, claimed that the vehicle was also burnt to ashes by the suspected Al-Shabaab militants before they escaped into the expansive Boni Forest.

The incident comes just weeks after two people were killed at Milihoi in Lamu County when over 20 suspected Al-Shabaab militants attacked a lorry that was heading to Hindi form Mpeketoni to deliver building blocks.

On July 13 this year, four women and a baby were killed after a police Land Cruiser they were travelling in ran over an IED at Omollo Bridge, 10 kilometres from the Bar’goni military camp.

The IED was also suspected to have been planted by Al-Shabaab.

Inspector-General of Police Joseph Boinnet recently gave warnings of possible terrorist attacks this festive season.