Three women killed in Kenya after attack on police station

MOMBASA, Kenya, Sept. 11 (UPI) -- Three women were killed by police Sunday after allegedly trying to stage an attack on the main police station in Mombasa, Kenya.

The women entered the police station saying they wanted to report a stolen phone, Mombasa police said. One then pulled a knife and another threw a gas bomb, which started a fire, BBC reported. Two officers were hurt in the incident.

Though it is not clear who is behind the attack, authorities suspect the extremist group al-Shabab, which has staged numerous similar attacks in Kenya. BBC reported all of the women were wearing hijab and bullet-proof vests under their clothes. Local media reported the women were wearing suicide vests.

Gun shots and an explosion were heard in the area of the station, Standardmedia.com reported.

The Somali-based al-Shabab has been targeting Kenya in attacks since 2011 when Kenya troops were deployed to Somalia to rid it of militants.