By CYRUS OMBATI
Nairobi, Kenya: Mystery surrounds the discovery of four empty ammunition boxes at the Nakumatt Junction Mall’s basement on Monday afternoon.
Police have established neither the origin of the boxes found abandoned in a trolley nor the whereabouts of the bullets that were emptied from the boxes.
Witnesses said the boxes had been labelled as explosives but when bomb experts who were called at the scene opened them, they realised they were boxes that usually hold 9 mm calibre bullets commonly used in Ceska pistols or MP5 machine guns.
Attendants at the supermarket are the ones who discovered the boxes when they were returning trolleys into the premises. “We did not know what was in the boxes but police arrived, picked them up and dashed out because they did not want to draw much attention from the crowd that was gathering,” said an attendant.
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The attendants are among those who have so far been questioned over the baffling incident as police officers seek to unravel the motive and those behind it.
Top security officials were ensconced in meetings yesterday to discuss the matter, which many termed as scary. Security was tight at the mall yesterday even as other workers said the boxes were six.
Nairobi Police boss Benson Kibue refused to comment on the issue, only saying: “Security has been beefed up in the city and all concerned parties should co-operate.
Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero is among those who visited the scene as experts arrived to secure it.
White widow
Other officials suspect the owner or owners of the bullets may have wanted to send a “message”.
The mall was said to be among those targeted by terrorists after it emerged the “white widow” Samantha Lewthwaite was a frequent visitor there before the Westgate Mall terror attack.
But yesterday, the mall’s management assured its shoppers and visitors that security measures have been put in place and are being reviewed regularly to ensure that the mall is secure. “Much of the information regarding the bullet boxes has been misinterpreted and should therefore not scare shoppers,” said part of a statement.
The statement added that the mall is working closely with its security organs and top Kenyan security to ensure that there is safety for all the shoppers and visitors.
