Kenyan police arrest 2 terror suspects along Tanzania border
Kenyan security personnel have arrested two Tanzanian nationals as they attempted to sneak into the country to reportedly recruit young women to join Somalia based militant group Al-Shabaab.
Cabinet Secretary for Internal Security Joseph Nkaissery told a news conference in Nairobi on Saturday the two male terror suspects will be arraigned in court next week.
“The terror suspects were arrested at the Isebania border in Migori County as they attempted to recruit Kenyan young ladies to join Al-Shabaab terror group. The arrest was made possible due to cooperation between the public and security agents,” Nkaissery said.
Kenyan authorities mid June issued an alert on a possible terrorist attack by Al-Shabaab during the holy month of Ramadhan. The security agencies have been on high alert to thwart possible attacks.
Nkaissery noted that heightened vigilance has deterred terrorist attacks in the country.
“This illustrates the desperate efforts these criminals are making from all corners of our country in their effort to harm us. But let me point out that we are increasingly focusing on the points of operations by these groups internally and externally to exterminate them,” he said.
“The valuable information provided by members of the public to the security agencies has helped foil potential attacks and led to the arrest of suspects who are currently in police custody,” Nkaissery added.
The East African nation has been investigating 48 terror suspects in an ongoing swoop in the volatile counties in the coast and north eastern region.
Kenya continues to suffer several attacks as terrorists change tuck to beat heightened security and carry on with their heinous acts undetected.
In the recent past, there have been numerous attacks involving shootings, grenades, or other explosive devices in Kenya in addition to the attacks described above.
Most of these attacks occurred in northeastern Kenya, mainly in Dadaab, Wajir, Garissa, and Mandera counties. Several attacks also occurred along the Kenyan coast.
Nkaiserry said the security agencies are gradually dismantling terrorists and vowed to purge these criminals roaming in the country.
“As we move deeper into the holy month, we must not lose focus of yesterday’s unfortunate happenings in Somalia, Tunisia, France, Syria and Kuwait where dozens of innocent people lost their lives in the hands of terrorists,” he said.
Nkaissery said a manhunt for Al-Shabaab militants who escaped with injuries during an attempted raid on a military barracks in Lamu County on June 14 has been intensified.
According to Kenyan Defense Forces, 11 Al-Shabaab militants including their British ring leader died during a gun battle with soldiers in Baure military camp.
Nkaissery disclosed that police have arrested a militant whose picture appeared in local newspapers after a tip-off from the public.
“The police arrested terror suspect, Abdulhakim Abdul Samad who claimed to be a Briton but has ancestral in Lamu,” Nkaissery said.
He added that six youths from Somalia have been arrested in Western Kenya on suspicion of belonging to Al-Shabaab.
The internal security minister sounded alarm over foreign criminals who have acquired Kenyan identity cards and indigenous names in order to blend in the community.
