Police Foil Planned Al-Shabaab Bomb Attack in Garissa County
Kenya’s elite Special Operations Group (SOG) has successfully stopped a planned terror attack after intercepting eight Al-Shabaab militants who were preparing improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in the Welmerer-Yumbia area of Garissa County.
According to security reports, the militants were caught while assembling the deadly explosives.
The operation began after SOG officers received crucial intelligence from vigilant local residents, who noticed suspicious activity and alerted authorities.
Acting on the tip-off, the unit quickly moved to the scene and confronted the suspects.
Upon arrival, the SOG team engaged the terrorists in a brief gunfight, managing to recover several IEDs that had already been put together and planted along the busy Welmerer-Yumbis road.
Authorities confirmed that the explosives were intended to target civilian vehicles and security convoys frequently using that route.
In a statement shared by Counter Terrorism Policing Kenya on Monday, the unit praised the bravery of the officers who prevented a potential tragedy.
“Our Elite Special Operations Group (SOG) stopped eight Al-Shabaab terrorists who were attempting to set up Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in the Welmerer-Yumbia area in Garissa,” part of the report read.
The statement added: “The courageous officers confronted the terrorists and recovered several assembled IEDs which were meant to harm innocent civilians — our mothers, children, and security officers — who use the Welmerer-Yumbis road daily.”
Security experts noted that the swift action by the SOG prevented what could have been another devastating terror attack in a region that has seen a surge in militant activity in recent months.
Garissa County and surrounding areas have frequently been targeted by Al-Shabaab, mainly through roadside bombings and ambushes on patrol convoys.
In July this year, three Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldiers lost their lives, and several others were injured when their vehicle struck an IED along the Sakuri-Kiunga Main Supply Route (MSR) during a routine patrol.
Security officials said the explosion was powerful enough to destroy the vehicle and leave a deep crater on the road.
Just a month earlier, in June, security forces successfully eliminated four suspected Al-Shabaab militants in Garissa after tracking them using drones.
A police report confirmed that the suspects were neutralised in the Najo and Guracho areas, where officers recovered AK-47 rifles, a PKM machine gun, several rounds of ammunition, and communication radios.
Similarly, in August, at least five Al-Shabaab fighters were killed by KDF officers during an intelligence-led operation inside the Boni Forest in Lamu County.
According to military sources, the operation took place in Lacta Mangai, one of the known hideouts for the militant group. Some of the terrorists were killed instantly, while others escaped with injuries during the confrontation.
Security analysts believe that these recent operations show Kenya’s strengthened counterterrorism efforts, especially in the northeastern and coastal regions, which remain Al-Shabaab’s main areas of focus.
Authorities have continued to urge residents to stay alert and report any suspicious movements to help prevent further attacks.
The government and security agencies have also assured citizens that they will continue to work tirelessly to protect communities living near the Somalia border and ensure that the threat of terrorism is neutralized before it can cause more harm.
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