Al-Shabaab commander Karatey who was behind El-Adde attack killed in KDF strike

Nairobi, Kenya: Al-Shabaab’s deputy commander Mr Mahad Mohammed Karatey alias Mahat Karatey who was behind the El-Adde attack has been killed in a Kenya Defence Forces strike in Somalia.

Karatey was behind the Alamnyat, the Al-Shabaab’s intelligence wing.

KDF said he was killed together with 10 middle level commanders and 42 recruits in the airstrike on Nadris camp on February 8.

KDF spokesman Col David Obonyo said Thursday Mr Karatey had gone to the camp to preside over the pass out of an estimated 80 Alamnyat recruits who had completed their training and were due for deployment to carry out more terror attacks.

 “It is confirmed that 42 recruits were also killed while many others sustained injuries,” Col Obonyo said.

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He added it was believed that Mr Karatey played a major role in the recent attack on KDF troops in El-Adde by deployment of suicide bombers in which about 130 soldiers were killed.

The Alamnyat is the Al-Shabaab’s intelligence wing that comprises of suicide bombers, assassins, explosive experts and information gatherers.

The US government had placed a Sh500 million bounty on the head of Karatey. Kenya celebrated saying the killing was a major blow to the Islamist group.

Karate was placed on the US State Department’s wanted terrorist list in April 2015 after the Garissa attack.

“Karate, also known as Abdirahman Mohamed Warsame, played a key role in the Alamnyat, the wing of the Shabaab responsible for assassinations and the April 2, 2015 attack on Garissa University College,” the US Rewards for Justice wanted notice reads.

“The Shabaab’s intelligence wing is involved in the execution of suicide attacks and assassinations in Somalia, Kenya and other countries in the region, and provides logistics and support for Shabaab terrorist operations throughout the Horn of Africa.”

Karate was also the deputy of former leader Ahmed Godane, killed in a US drone strike in September 2014.

On January 15, the Al-Shabaab attacked KDF camp in El-Adde, Somalia killing unknown number of soldiers.

The attackers used Vehicle Borne Improvised Devices (VBIED) an indication they had planned the raid for long and exploited a tactical weakness during rotation of forces to exact the carnage.

A board of inquiry is investigating how the attack happened and is set to give out its report to the CDF.

There are reports the local clan may have played a role in the attack.

Burial events of some of the soldiers killed in the attack are ongoing.