Six Kenyan police officers were killed by suspected Al-Shabaab Islamist militants who overran a reservist base on Sunday, police said.

The militants attacked a police reservist camp at Biyamadhow in Garissa County on the border with Somalia, a spokesman told reporters.

The attack happened early on Sunday morning and the spokesperson said the “suspected militia used assorted weapons to overrun the camp”.

Six fatalities were confirmed by police. a further four people were injured and taken to hospital.

Al-Shabaab has been fighting the federal government in Somalia for over 15 years and analysts say it has become an increasing threat in recent months.
It has a presence in Boni Forest, which straddles the Kenya-Somalia border, and regularly clashes with Kenyan forces there.

It has also carried out several fatal attacks deeper in Kenya in the past, partly in response to Kenya’s military involvement against the group in Somalia.