GARISSA, Kenya, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Four children were killed after a Somalia-based extremist group al-Shabab attacked a Kenyan village near the Somali border early Tuesday, said a Kenyan government official.

Kibet Bowen, Garissa deputy county commissioner, said al-Shabab blew up a communication mast near Saretho police patrol base within Dadaab area but the police responded in time and killed two of the attackers.

Bowen said the four children living near the police camp were killed by stray bullets fired by about 12 al-Shabab militants during the fighting.

"The militants were targeting the police officers manning the police barrier at Saretho ... The police recovered two AK 47 riffles and two improvised explosive devices," Bowen told Xinhua.

He said security operation is under way to search for other militants who escaped towards the Somali border.

Al-Shabab militants usually smash telecommunication masts to disrupt police response and communication in the area before they could inflict damage on the local population.

A number of security personnel have died along the border with Somalia as a result of the attacks, some of which include improvised explosive devices placed on roadsides by al-Shabab militants.

The police have stepped up security around the country since al-Shabab stormed a U.S. military training base in coastal Kenya and killed three Americans. Enditem

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