Police headquarters has issued a red terror alert in Northern Kenya, Coastal region and all major towns across the country.
National Police Spokesperson Charles Owino said terror groups notably ISIS, Al-qaeda and AlShabaab have called for increased terrorists attacks during the Holy month of Ramadhan commencing mid this month. Intelligence reports show the extremists are targeting learning institutions, churches and public transport services.
“As we approach the holy month of Ramadhan set to begin from May 15, 2018, terror groups have issued alerts urging their members to step up attacks during this period. We are therefore urging members of the public to remain on high alert and be extra vigilant especially in populated public places including hotels, churches, bus stages and schools,” Owino said.
Although police did not disclose the identities of some of the eight profiled Al Shabaab operatives who planned to sneak into the country from Somalia to stage attacks, Owino said some of them have since been arrested through information volunteered by members of the public. Last week, four quarry workers were massacred by the Al Shabaab militants at Shimbir Fatuma area in Mandera County. Late last month, three Kenyans profiled as terror suspects sneaked into Somalia to join the Al Shabaab militancy network are said to be planning to infiltrate back into the country to carry out attacks.
Two of them; Hamis Hemed alias Baloteli and Ali Ahmed Ali are linked to a Malindi based terror cell while, Mohamed Abdalla Asman alias Papa or Raymond is linked to a Majengo terror cell in Nairobi. Abdalla is not a first time terror suspect offender since he was arrested in 2013 and jailed at the Garissa GK prison before being released on July 12, 2017 after he finished his sentence. He was apprehended while trying to cross over to Somalia to undergo training by the extremist group.