Mombasa police foil night terror attack, arrest two suspects, military called in

KDF soldiers at a past operation. [PHOTO: STANDARD/FILE]

By BENARD SANGA

MOMBASA, KENYA: Mombasa is on high alert after the Police intercepted a vehicle carrying two Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) at Changamwe in an operation that saw the arrest of two suspected terrorists.

Mombasa County Commander Robert Kitur said two suspects a Kenyan and one of Somali origin that police term as “key terror suspects” were also arrested.

Following the Monday night incident Mombasa police headquarters was cordoned off and military in armoured vehicles called in as all police officers at the station including those on duty were told to vacate.

Police source told the Standard that the explosive were connected to the mobile phone and had been powered by a car battery.

“Yes we have arrested two suspects with IEDs and the explosives are two in number. We got the information after the suspects communicated with their colleagues in Somalia,” said Kitur.

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He said that police have been tracking the suspects who are believed to have crossed into Kenya sometime last month.

Bomb experts told The Standard that the explosive was capable of bringing down a 10 story building and had already been connected to the mobile phone that was to be used to detonate.

“There is one suspect that may have escaped the police dragnet and we are searching for him,” added the police source.