Nairobi, May 26 (IANS): Somalia's Al-Shabaab militant group on Tuesday claimed responsibility for Monday evening's attack in Yumbis, Garissa, in northeast Kenya, in which they claimed to have killed 30 police officers.

An Al Shabaab spokesman told pro-Al Shabaab radio Andulus that they killed at least 30 police officers at the small village of Yumbis near Garissa town which borders Somalia.

Police sources in Kenya said more than 20 police officers were feared dead in an Al Shabaab attack in Garissa county in northeast Kenya.

Police sources said at least four police vehicles were burnt down in the incident that happened as the officers rushed to rescue their colleagues who had been hit by a roadside land mine on Monday evening in Yumbis area.

According to police sources who sought anonymity, the police officers dashed to a place where another team of officers had been injured in an earlier attack when they were ambushed on Monday evening.

A police officer who survived the attack said the militants, who were over 40 in number, were armed with sophisticated weapons which they could not match.

"When we reached the area, we started by clearing it before advancing to the vehicle which had overturned, but the militants had already taken cover. Within no time we all of a sudden found ourselves surrounded by them," said the officer who did not want to be identified.

"We could hear rocket-propelled grenades and bombs being hurled at us," he added.

Fafi sub-county commissioner Geoffrey Taragon could not state the exact number of officers who were still missing.

"We are still combing the bush to flush out the militias. We will give out a conclusive report later in the day when we have it," Taragon told Xinhua news agency.

The residents said the five vehicles that the officers used for the rescue mission were all set ablaze. This could not be confirmed by Kenyan authorities. A contingent of police officers has been deployed in the area.