Blasts, gunfire in northeast Kenya - Red Cross

Kenya has allegedly been struck by another outbreak of violence, this time in the city of Wajir, 500 kilometers from Nairobi, as two explosions, followed by gunfire, were reported by Red Cross Wednesday evening.

Kenyan military commander Isiaih Odhiambo also confirmed to NTV Kenya that a “loud explosion” had taken place.

The attack took place near local Catholic Church.

A routine police patrol in Wajir come across to suspicious individuals and confronted them, at which point grenades were detonated.

Three people were injured as gunmen dropped two loud explosives and engaged police in a sporadic shootout, the local KTN TV station reported.

ALERT: Twin Explosions & Heavy gunfire rock Wajir Town. No injuries reported. Update after #RedCross assessment ^PO

— Kenya Red Cross (@KenyaRedCross) September 25, 2013

Armed attack in Wajir in northeast Kenya involving grenades and automatic gunfire. Clearly intended to maintain a sense of national siege.

— Timothy Kalyegira (@TimKalyegira) September 25, 2013

The local police commander said security forces were now in control of the situation.

Kenyan Interior Minister Joseph Ole Lenku said security has been tightened across the country.

Wajir is a city of 82,000 residents in northeastern Kenya, about 160 kilometers (100 miles) from the Somalian border.

The reports come just as the country is recovering from a deadly attack by Jihadists on a shopping center in Nairobi that left 72 people dead and more than 200 injured.