Police thwart terror attempt in Garissa

By Cyrus Ombati

Police thwarted a major terror plot in Garissa when they safely detonated a bomb weighing over 10 kilogrammes abandoned outside a restaurant.

The bomb is believed to be an improvised one but capable of devastating impact when it explodes.

Investigatrors are trying to trace its origin and the intention and target of terror suspects.

In a related development, a gunman shot and killed a refugee inside Ifo Refugee Camp in the larger Dadaab in an attack that has puzzled security officers.

The incident happened on Monday and police say they are yet to establish the motive of the attack and they suspect militants’ hand.

Witnesses told police the gunman walked to a makeshift where the deceased was lying and pumped seven bullets into his body before he dropped his gun and escaped on foot.

North Eastern police boss Philip Tuimur said the attacker escaped after he was confronted by other refugees at the camp.

The officer said they have enhanced security at the larger refugee camp in the wake of the ouster of Somalia’s Al-Shabaab militants.

“We are working with other refugees to ensure their security,” said Tuimur.

More anti-terror police officers have been dispatched to major towns in North Eastern to help in taming sympathisers of the militants who are on the lose.

As part of the measures to curb the menace, the government has ordered all refugees in the towns in the province to register with relevant authorities or risk arrest and deportation.

Officials say the presence of the refugees at the camps is a threat to the local security and country at large.

The larger camp is hosting more than 500,000 refugees and officials say more are arriving on a daily basis.

In all, some 220 Kenyan police are now deployed in Dadaab, which consists of five camps spread across 50 square kilometers.

Meanwhile, bomb experts were called to examine contents of a brief case that had been found abandoned on the streets in Garissa Town.

The bag was found abandoned and the owners were yet to surface on Tuesday morning forcing police who have been alerted by the public to call. Police have been educating the public to always call them whenever they find abandoned bags over fears they could be containing explosives.

Kenya has suffered a number of attacks since troops crossed to Somalia to hunt down the militants last October. The Kenya Defence Forces have so far captured Kismayo city, which was the last bastion of the militants.