14 July 2016•Update: 25 July 2016
By Andrew Wasike
NAIROBI, Kenya
Five police officers were feared killed in western Kenya on Thursday after an arrested terror suspect grabbed a rifle and opened fire, the country’s top police officer said.
The suspect was under arrest at Kapenguria police station, West Pokot county, when he seized a rifle and began shooting police, Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinett told local media.
The Star newspaper said unconfirmed reports described the attacker as a suspected al-Shabaab terrorist. Having turned violent at around 3 a.m. local time (0000GMT), he is reportedly holding officers hostage inside the police station.
Police spokesman Charles Owino told the newspaper a “serious exchange” had taken place.
Soldiers and police reinforcements have surrounded the station, which is around 50 kilometers (30 miles) from the Ugandan border.
