A team of specialized crime prevention police officers Monday arrested two men suspected to be wanted terrorists at the busy Likoni Kenya Ferry Service crossing channel, Mombasa.
The team from the Special Forces detectives and Anti-Terror Police intercepted a white Toyota Probox at the Likoni ferry and arrested the two suspects before they could board one of ferries plying between Mombasa Island and Likoni mainland. The hooded officers handcuffed and blindfolded the suspects and bundled them into police vehicles.
On searching the suspects’ vehicle, Toyota Probox car registration KCE 695U, the officers found two fully loaded AK-47 rifles, machetes and explosive materials.
The team also recovered mobile phones from the suspects, which they hope will provide them with more detailed information about their motives.
The detectives trailed the suspect from the Kenya- Tanzania border town of Lungalunga before arresting them.
The two men were also reported to have been trailed for weeks by undercover investigators in Mombasa and other adjacent towns.
They were suspected to have planned to carry out attacks at unknown places within the Coastal town.
The weapons and explosive making materials were also reportedly brought into the country from a neighbouring country.
Coast Regional Commissioner John Elungata was quoted saying the suspects will be interrogated to establish what they had planned to do with the deadly arsenals in Mombasa.
Elungata added that more suspects will be apprehended adding police were following up other leads gathered from members of the public.
The Regional Commissioner has assured the public that the security agencies are alert to deal with criminal elements seeking to cause insecurity.
Addressing a conference of Muslim leaders’ weekend, he urged them to support the government in the fight against terrorism, violent extremism and radicalization.
“Religious leaders have a big role in preaching against misleading teachings in our society such as radicalization and youth gangsterism,” added Elungata.
By Galgalo Bocha
