Police have reportedly foiled what could have been a major terrorist attack organized by suspected Al Shabaab militants in Nairobi.
This comes after an engagement between security officers and the militants in Isiolo on Thursday, where one of them was killed, two arrested and a cache of arms including 36 grenades and five automatic rifles recovered.
A vehicle, rigged up with explosives and headed to Nairobi is also being held. The terrorists had allegedly planned to use the car as a vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED).
Preliminary investigations indicate that the vehicle was assembled by Al-Shabaab experts in El-Adde, Somalia.
A major police operation has been launched in Nairobi in bid to nab the terrorists’ accomplices following Thursday evening fire exchange in Merti, Isiolo County, where the car and the explosives were found.
Documents by police and seen by Daily Nation show that the terrorists had booked a hotel room in Nairobi, as a key, which indicated the identity of the hotel a room number, were found after the gunfight.
“Our officers spotted a Mitsubishi sport car registration number KBM 200D hidden in a thicket. The team alighted from their vehicles and approached. One of the occupants came out while shooting at the officers. The officers returned fire killing the unidentified gunman instantly. Four of the occupants tried to escape,” the police report reads.
The report added: “Two (terrorists) were apprehended while two are at large among them one armed with Ak47 rifle.”
Those arrested were identified as Abdimajit Hassan Adan, 24, and Mohammed Nane, 23, both Kenyan citizens. An identity card belonging to Jirma Huka Galgalo was also found.
An officer who spoke to Nation on anonymity conditions said, if detonated, the impact would be devastating as the explosion would be powerful enough to destroy a storey building.
Five AK 47 rifles loaded with 36 magazines, each magazine carrying 30 bullets and “36 unprimed hand grenades, 18 IEDs and three millitary knives” were found in the car.
Also recovered was a black flag similar to that used by extremist jihadists and other materials associated with Al-Shabaab.
Merti Deputy County Commissioner Maiyo Julius, Police Commander Gifinalis Barasa and his Administration Police counterpart Hussein Ibrahim led the operation. The security officers were were acting on intelligence gathered locally and from sources in Somalia.
Why arrest watu wa mukono…
Why arrest watu wa mukono and leave their sponsor,terroris/muuaji Raila free?
“The security officers were…
“The security officers were were acting on intelligence gathered locally and from sources in Somalia.” Then why didn’t police send GSU and provide air cover to apprehend these evil Somalis who might try to escape? Problem with our poorly trained regular police is that they never plan or execute anything properly without either getting killed by ignorant Somali youth or letting these evil bastards escape to attack again. Fair job but with fore planning it would have been a great job and fully successful.