German National Arrested in Kenya over Terror Links

A German national accused of funding terrorism activities has been arrested in Kenya.

Hans–Dieter Wilhelm Schwing, who is the prime suspect in an alleged impending terror threat in Mombasa, was apprehended by anti-terror police in the coastal city on Monday and was paraded in court on Tuesday.

His arrest followed an intelligence report that he has been facilitating foreigners to enter the country illegally.

He is alleged to be financing terrorism through companies in which he is a director, according to an affidavit tabled in court by the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

“The ATPU received intelligence that Mr Schwing was facilitating foreigners, some of whom are said to be involved in terror activities, to access the country illegally and helping them acquire legal status,” State Counsel Nyawinda Oyugi said.

Court documents show that Schwing is the director of Scout Logic, a company that has been packaged as a travel agency to aid European citizens to access Kenya for undisclosed business.

He is also said to be the director of You Drive, a company that is packaged as a driving school whose mission is to assist Europeans to obtain driving licenses in Kenya by sub-contracting established driving schools at a fee.

“Investigations have revealed that the respondent works in an elaborate syndicate with his associates based in Kenya and Europe,” Oyugi noted.

Oyugi told Mombasa senior resident magistrate Rita Amwayi that the foreigner is believed to be supporting an undisclosed terror organization.

The court gave the police two days to finalize investigations and ordered the suspect to be produced before the court on Thursday.