Two people seriously injured in Mombasa grenade attack

Picture: The scene of the attack.

Two people, among them a police officer, were Thursday night injured in a grenade attackin Mombasa as they were escorting a suspect they had arrested in Mwembe Tayari to a police station.

The two who were badly injured had to be rushed to Jocham Hospital for treatment according to witnesses at the scene of the attack near Duka La Lesso along Biashara Street. They were later referred to Coast General Hospital.

Mombasa County Commissioner Nelson Marwa, Governor Hassan Joho, Senator Omar Hassan, Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir and police officers rushed to the scene and had the area cordoned off from the public.

Witnesses said the three police officers had just arrested a young man, handcuffed him and were escorting him to Mwembe Tayari Police Station when they were suddenly confronted by three of his friends.

The three young men demanded to know the reason the man, who they called their friend, had been arrested by the police and that he be released immediately.

As the exchange escalated, one of the young men hurled a hand-held grenade at the officers, injuring one of them critically. The police attempted to fight back shattering windscreens of two saloon cars.

In the ensuing confusion, the young man who had been arrested and his three friend fled as the officers struggled to save their colleague.The grenade explosion left a gaping hole on the road.

Anti-terror police officers secured the scene with Mombasa County Commissioner Nelson Marwa saying he would brief the media on the initial reports from the police.

Mr Marwa said police officers arrested the young man who they suspected was planning an attack in the coastal city and assured the residents that they were handling the security situation.

Mr Joho assured Mombasa residents that they had met President Uhuru Kenyatta who had assured them of the measures being taken to avert any other attacks.

The attack came a few days after the UK evacuated its tourists from most hotels at the Coast citing in the aftermath of a travel advisory.

Thompsons Tour Company, a leading firm inbringing tourists in the county, suspended all flights to Kenya until October 31.