Explosives were in suspect’s home, witness tells court

By WILLIS OKETCH

Mombasa, Kenya: A Scotland Yard forensic expert Thursday disclosed that inflammable and explosive materials were found in the house of British suspect Jermaine Grant when police raided the home in late 2011.

Lorna Kirstine also told the court that they did not find explosives in the rented residence of Samantha Lewthwaite a.k.a the White Widow, the woman suspected to be behind the Westgate Mall attack in Nairobi.

Ms Kirstine told the Mombasa Senior Principal Magistrate Joyce Gandani that based on information given by the Kenya police, a number of items including clothes were recovered from the house where Mr Grant stayed, which belongs to a former Kenya Navy soldier.

“There were a number of items and clothing scattered within and around the house but from the information supplied, the items could not pass as explosives,” said Kirstine, referring to Samantha’s house.

She told the court that Samantha’s house at Maweni, Nyali has three bedrooms and two security gates.

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The officer, who is the third British witness to testify against Grant, said some items recovered from one of Grant’s house in Kishada, Kisauni had chemicals used in making bombs.

She was testifying in the trial of Grant and his wife, Warda Breik, who have denied that on December 20, 2011 they were found in possession of explosives for making bombs.

Their co-accused Faud Abubakar jumped the bail and has, allegedly, joined Samantha in waging war against British US citizens and Kenyans perceived to be pagans.