NAIROBI, Kenya — Al-Shabaab extremists from neighboring Somalia beheaded nine civilians in an early-morning attack on a village in the southeast, Kenyan officials said on Saturday, as concerns grew that the group had taken up a bloody new strategy.

The attack occurred in Jima village in Lamu County, said James Ole Serian, who leads a task force of security agencies combating Al-Shabaab.

Beheadings by Al-Shabaab have been rare in Kenya, where the extremist group has carried out dozens of deadly attacks over the years. The East African country has seen an increase in attacks claimed by Al-Shabaab in recent weeks, posing a security threat ahead of next month’s presidential election.

Saturday’s attack occurred in the Pandaguo area, where Al-Shabaab fighters engaged security agencies in a daylong battle three days ago.

A police report says about 15 Al-Shabaab fighters on Saturday attacked Jima village and seized men, killing them with knives.

Beheadings by Al-Shabaab are not uncommon in Somalia, where the extremists carry them out on people who are believed to be enemies. The tactic also is used to terrorize local populations.

Al-Shabaab in recent months also has increased attacks in Kenya with homemade bombs, killing at least 46 in Lamu and Mandera counties.

The increase in attacks presents a huge problem for Kenya’s security agencies ahead of the Aug. 8 presidential election, said security analyst and former US Marine Andrew Franklin. On election day security agencies will be strained while attempting stop any possible violence and Al-Shabaab could take advantage, he said.

President Uhuru Kenyatta has not issued any statement on the recent surge in Al-Shabaab attacks.

Kenya is among five countries contributing troops to an African Union force that is bolstering Somalia’s fragile central government against al-Shabab’s insurgency. Of the troop-contributing countries, Kenya has borne the brunt of retaliatory attacks from Al-Shabaab. — AP