简体中文
Kenyan police are questioning one suspect in connection to an attack on Wednesday night in Kenya's north region Waji where a civilian was killed and four others seriously injured.
Wajir divisional police commander Isaiah Odhiambo confirmed the arrest on Thursday, saying the suspect of Somali origin was among those injured in the incident.
"We believe he was one of those involved in the attack. He is under our watch at the hospital where he is admitted and we will interrogate him immediately he is discharged," Odhiambo told Xinhua.
Around the 7:30 p.m., an unknown number of assailants attacked a local market and proceeded to hurl three hand grenades before opening fire at the crowd who were buying vegetables at a local grocery shop.
In the process four people sustained serious gun wounds including two ladies and a man suspected to be among the attackers.
Odhiambo said the suspect was injured by the grenade that exploded and was later arrested and is helping police with investigations.
Odhiambo said they have tightened security in the town. "We managed to arrive at the scene in time and arrested one suspect in the attack," he said.
The residents said the security officers early Thursday detonated one hand grenade that did not explode when it was hurled by the assailants.
According to Damaris, one of the females who were injured in the incident, the attackers disguised themselves as customers before proceeding to carry out the attack.
"I saw three young men approach where we were, the next thing I remember hearing was a loud bang which was followed by gun shots. There was confusion as everybody wailed," Damaris told Xinhua.
Wajir town had until Wednesday's incident enjoyed relative calm with no incident reported.
The incident comes as forensic experts are still examining the Westgate shopping mall attacked by Al-Shabaab militias which left 67 people dead include 61 civilians and six security officers.
Al-Qaida allied Somali militants have claimed responsibility for the Westgate attacks which also saw five militants killed and 11 suspects arrested for questioning.
Foreign forensic experts who are investigating the Westgate incident are expected to establish the identities of the terrorists.
The investigations, involving finger-printing, DNA and ballistics examination, will go on for the next seven days and will establish the identities of the slain militants.
Kenya has heightened security around the country with security agencies at an unprecedented state of alert after latest reports that Al-Shabaab militants plan more attacks against Kenya and foreign interests in the country.
Since Kenya sent troops across the border into Somalia in October 2011, northern and parts of eastern Kenya have been hit by a series of blasts, many targeting local security forces and humanitarian workers.
Several attacks believed to have been carried out by Al-Shabaab have occurred in Mandera, Wajir, and Garissa and Dadaab districts of northern Kenya even as the military reports gains against the militant group by capturing their military bases and killing scores of them.
