The incident occurred near the Kobil petrol station on Limuru Road where the thugs were accosted as they tried to hijack a lorry, according to police/FILE
The incident occurred near the Kobil petrol station on Limuru Road where the thugs were accosted as they tried to hijack a lorry, according to police.
“They were being pursued and were shot just as they struck their target,” said Moses Nyakwama, Nairobi deputy police chief.
The fuel station where the shooting occurred is adjacent to a popular coffee house where patrons were sent panicking during the shootout.
“We believe their accomplice has escaped and a security operation is underway to get him,” Nyakwama told Capital FM News on telephone shortly after the incident. Two rifles, handcuffs and a police communication gadget were recovered from the slain men.
The incident caused panic in the tightly guarded area which is a few meters from the United Nations headquarters, the Canadian High Commission and the US Embassy.
Additional armed police officers, including from the General Service Unit (GSU) were quickly deployed to enhance security at the UN and all embassies around the vicinity.
“We have sent more officers there although there are usually GSU deployments at some of the embassies,” he added of the incident that occurred just a few meters from the Gigiri police station and the Diplomatic Police Headquarters.
Part of the UN Avenue was immediately closed for motorists and a lock-down ordered at the UN headquarters as police officers battled it out with the gunmen.
Normalcy returned shortly after.
“Everything is now fine after the shootout,” Nyakwama said.
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