No fewer than 20 police officers were on Tuesday killed in an ambush by Somali Militant group, Al-Shabaab, in the north-eastern part of Kenya, a police officer said.

The officer, who claimed anonymity, said the militants bombed five vehicles in a convoy of Kenyan security forces travelling to the village of Yumbis in Garissa County.

“We still don’t know how many people were killed because several people are still missing, the officer said.

The officer said the attack occurred a week after Al-Shaabab hit Yumbis, Welmareer and Damajale in Garissa county, but were repelled by the army and police.

However, the police officer said that militants had returned to seize Yumbis village and Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack on Tuesday.

The group’s spokesperson, Abdiasis Mus’ab, said their fighters have carried out a successful operation killing more than 20 Kenyan police officers.

Mr. Mus’ab said the groups have also destroyed five Kenyan police vehicles during the raid, saying the casualty number could be significantly higher than the figure reported.

Al-Shabaab is demanding the withdrawal of Kenyan troops from Somalia and has repeatedly launched cross-border attacks.

(dpa/NAN)