GARISSA, Kenya, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan security forces announced on Friday that they are pursuing three al-Shabab militants who fled after being spotted near the border with Somalia.
The National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC) said that security forces responded on Thursday to sightings of the al-Shabab terrorists in the Alango Warba area of Garissa County, located in the northeast of the country.
"Three al-Shabab militants fled upon hearing that a multi-agency security team was approaching, leaving behind materials for making improvised explosive devices, including TNT explosives, grenades, command wires, wristwatches, testers, and other assorted equipment," the NCTC said.
This incident follows a recent terror alert regarding the potential for attacks by al-Shabab militants in the country.
Police said that ongoing counter-terrorism operations by security agencies in the broader northeastern region have successfully foiled attempts by al-Shabab to carry out attacks.
"The fight against terrorism is too important to be left solely to the government," police officials emphasized, calling for collective efforts in the war on terror.
In northeastern Kenya's Mandera, Wajir, and Garissa counties, there have been attacks attributed to al-Shabab militants since the Kenyan military entered Somalia in 2011 to pursue al-Shabab militants after a series of kidnappings of tourists along the border. ■
