War on terror: CS Joseph Ole Lenku says four airlines surcharged for bringing inadmissible people

Bomb experts comb through the Toyota Hilux in which explosives and other weapons were discovered at the Mombasa Police Headquarters, Tuesday. [PHOTO: MAARUFU MOHAMED/STANDARD]

By CYRUS OMBATI

NAIROBI, KENYA: Some 145 terrorists are being held in isolation in various maximum-security prisons in the country following renewed war on terrorism.

Of these, 129 were arrested in the past month alone in operations mounted by Kenyan anti-terror police with the assistance of other foreign agencies.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Ole Lenku said Wednesday they have heightened operations against terrorism and revealed four airlines had been surcharged for bringing into the country inadmissible persons.

Lenku said in his office the interception of the assortment of illegal arms and improvised explosive devices in Mombasa on Tuesday was a breakthrough in the war on terrorism.

“There is no doubt the capture of these assorted arms and the arrest of suspects averted an inconceivable disaster that could have resulted in loss of lives and destruction of property,” said Lenku.

He said among the recoveries include 270 rounds of ammunition, an AK 47 rifle, six IEDs, grenades, detonators and a mobile phone improvised for detonating bombs.

Another accomplice, a sixth one, was arrested Wednesday morning in Nairobi, said Lenku. Two others had been arrested in Nairobi on Tuesday in connection with the Mombasa seizure.

The revelation came following the discovery of a massive car bomb which US and Kenyan anti-terror experts believe was transported into the coastal city to commit what would have been one of the deadliest terrorist acts in Kenya.

The occupants were initially arrested possessing a modified vehicle. It is believed the FBI played a crucial role in tracking the vehicle from Somalia after it entered Kenya through Mandera and Garissa early this month.

According to sources, the occupants of the car were surveying targets in Mombasa for about a week after meeting their contacts in the coastal city. They planned to attack a mall there and some of plotters of the scheme had been linked by the FBI to the September 22 Westgate Shopping Mall in which more than 70 people were killed.

The cell phone lines used by the two suspects in custody yesterday had communicated to alleged Somali-based organisers of the Westgate terror attack.

Lenku said security has been beefed up in Mombasa County and other parts of the country.

“With Mombasa being a tourist hub, we are keen to ensure that tourists’ holidays are not disrupted by insecurity,” he said and defended the police raid on Musa Mosque in the coastal town.

He said no one should criticize police for their work and urged for public support.