Kenyan police have launched a manhunt for two suspected Al-Shabaab gunmen involved in the murder of a police officer on Thursday in the coastal city of Mombasa.
The gunmen shot dead the officer at point blank outside a hotel in the tourism resort city. The officer was guarding a popular casino when the attack happened, Mombasa County Police Commander Robert Kitur said on Friday.
“The gunmen ambushed our officer who was on duty; they shot him at close range before escaping on foot towards Majengo area,” Kitur told Xinhua in Mombasa.
He said the gunmen did not steal the officer’s loaded G3 rifle, adding that the officer, Simon Cheruko, had served the force for the last 17 years.
The incidence comes after two month lull in terror attacks in the region which has seen decline in tourist number, though the government had assured visitors of security.
A senior anti-terror police officer said the gunmen are believed to be Al-Shabaab returnees from Majengo sleepy cells blamed for gun attacks and grenade attacks.
Sources within the police said the gunmen are suspected to behind last month’s shooting of Mombasa CID commander.
The attack comes just days after Kenyan force took control of towns from Al-Shabaab and killed at least 34 of its members in Somalia.
*XINHUA
