Suspected terrorists ambushed a patrol in northeastern Kenya, killing five people, including four police officers, local officials told AFP on Wednesday.

The attack took place on Tuesday near the town of Lafey, about 10 kilometres from the Somali border, in Mandera County.

According to a police report seen by AFP, four officers and a reservist from the elite Special Operations Group (SOG) were killed during an encounter with suspected Al Shabab terrorists while on patrol.

Kenyan police spokesperson Michael Muchiri confirmed the authenticity of the report but gave no further details. Two Mandera County officials, requesting anonymity for security concerns, said the patrol was struck by a blast before coming under heavy gunfire, killing five people.

Increased attacks

Festus Chepkwony, the deputy administrator in the Lafey area of Mandera, confirmed the attack and said it was believed to have been carried out by Al Shabab, though he could not independently verify the death toll.

The terrorist group has stepped up attacks around Lafey in recent months.

Kenyan media reported that Al Shabab terrorists attacked an SOG camp in Lafey in June.

Last week, they also struck the settlements of Arabia and Fino, about 60 kilometres north of the town along the Somali border.