Police: 13 officers missing following attack; 5 injured
Source: AP
KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) Thirteen Kenyan police are missing after suspected al-Shabab gunmen attacked their vehicles near Somalia's border, injuring at least five other officers and burning five cars, police said on Tuesday.
A police spokesman, George Kimoti, told The Associated Press that 13 officers were missing following the attack. A statement signed by Police Chief J.K. Boinnet said two officers were critically injured and three others sustained minor injuries in the attack but made no mention of missing officers.
Another police official said the missing officers were part of team of more than 20 officers traveling in three Land Cruiser pick-up trucks who had gone to recover a firearm lost by one officer when their car was hit by a land mine. It is believed al-Shabab militants attacked the officers after reinforcements were sent in, with officers running for safety as militants fired at them, according to the police officer. The officer spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to reporters.
The statement by Boinnet said there was a heavy exchange of gunfire with the Islamic militants. Al-Shabab is a Somali extremist group.
Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/local-media-several-kenyan-police-officers-killed-ambush-061709224.html;_ylt=A86.J3TyRGRVLzUAgkEPxQt.;_ylu=X3oDMTByNWU4cGh1BGNvbG8DZ3ExBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzYw--