NAIROBI, Kenya (TheBlaze/AP) — Five suspected Islamic extremist bombers were killed by Kenyan soldiers after attempting to cross into Kenya from Ethiopia in a car carrying explosives and six suicide vests, a spokesman for the Kenyan military said.

Kenyan soldiers (Image source: YouTube)

Authorities recovered 220 pounds of TNT from the vehicle which was intercepted at Dolo along Kenya's border with Ethiopia on Saturday, Bogita Ongeri said Sunday.

Security forces had been tracking the car with Kenyan registration and knew the suspected terrorists had unsuccessfully tried to enter Kenya at another border point, Ongeri said. The five suspects killed were members of the Somali militant group al-Shabab, which is allied to Al Qaeda, Ongeri added.

Al-Shabab carries out terrorist bombings in Kenya because Kenyan troops are in Somalia fighting the militants.

This story has been updated.