MANDERA, Kenya, March 25 (Xinhua) -- At least three people, including two police officers, were killed and 13 others injured in a blast that targeted a local hotel in Mandera County, the northeastern part of Kenya, Monday, the police confirmed.
The police said the blast was caused by an improvised explosive device (IED) that had been planted in the hotel and was set off as patrons sat for food.
The police said in a security report released after the attack that the explosive device had been planted Sunday night and targeted the hotel patrons. "It was established that an IED had been planted at the hotel, which is mostly frequented by non-locals, including our security officers," the police said in the security report.
Among those killed were two police officers and a civilian woman.
Police said the woman was the owner of Mama Samaki Hotel, which was affected by the blast.
The latest blast comes as the area has been experiencing a lull in attacks from the al-Shabab terror group.
Security officials claimed the bomb was set up by the militants who had crossed from neighboring Somalia.
No arrest has been made because a security operation is underway in the area to downgrade the activities of the terrorists.
On Sunday, at least two members of the National Police Reserve (NPR) were killed in an attack by suspected terrorists in Witu in Kenya's coastal Lamu County.
Police said another reservist was injured in the attack Saturday night. The attackers also burnt a house and a motorcycle before stealing foodstuff. ■
