Photo taken on Sept. 11, 2016 shows the cordoned-off Central Police station after attacks in Mombasa, Kenya. Kenyan police on Sunday killed three hooded female terror suspects in the coastal city of Mombasa. (Xinhua/Mbuyu Cazeiya)
MOMBASA, Kenya, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan police on Sunday killed three hooded female terror suspects in the coastal city of Mombasa on Sunday.
Mombasa County commander Peterson Maelo said the three women clad in buibui or hijab burst into central police station wearing what is believed to be suicide belts and bullet proof velts.
Maelo said the three suicide bomb attackers stabbed two police officers after storming the station and hauled petrol bomb in a botched attempt to release a terror suspect from custody.
"This is a terrorist attack and investigations have been launched to establish the motive behind the attack at the Central Police Station in Mombasa," Maelo told journalists.
He said the suspects posed as clients to report an incident when they started attacking the officers but they were overpowered and killed.
The security officers have sealed off the scene. The police suspect the suicide bombers were wearing bullet proof jackets.
Maelo said the injured police officers have been rushed to hospital for emergency treatment as a major security operation is underway in the coastal city.
Witnesses said the three women brandished knives after they were barred from accessing the cells with one throwing a petrol bomb in an attempt to burn down the station, prompting police to shoot.
The motive of the attackers was not immediately known. There were claims they wanted to release a suspect in custody. Maelo said the situation was under control.
Pictures circulating showed police officers on window of the first floor of the station while jumping off from the fire that had been started.
