Police in Mombasa have managed to kill nine gangsters within 14 days as security agencies step up the fight against crime.

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The number rose to nine after police gunned down a wanted criminal at Bombolulu area after a hot pursuit.

The man was short dead by officers from a special unit formed to track notorious criminals terrorizing residents in the Coastal town.

Count police commander Johnston Ipara told journalists three pistols and 47 rounds of ammunition were recovered from the man's house. He was killed after he tried to attack the officers, Ipara said.

"We conducted operation and arrested him in his house; he cooperated with the officers before he went for his Ceska pistol hidden under his bed, prompting the officers to open fire," Ipara told Radio Jambo.

He said the man led officers to his house before he changed his mind and attacked them.

The man who police are yet to identify had several electronic items in his house suspected to have been stolen. On Tuesday, two other machete wielding men were gunned down in Likoni area.

The two were killed near Mtongwe ferry as they planned to rob businesses in Soko Mjinga, Likoni  Police said the two killed are criminals who intended to steal and enrich through other people’s sweat.

Likoni police boss Benjamin Rotich said the men are part of a gang that uses motorbikes to steal before cruising away at high speed.

Six other suspected gangsters were shot dead separately in Likoni and Kisauni last week.  Four were shot dead by police while two were lynched by a mob.