Form One student arrested in Siaya over terror attack leaflets

Siaya, Kenya: Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officers in Siaya County are interrogating a Form One student over alleged terror attack leaflets at Ramba Boys School in Rarieda.

According to Siaya County Commissioner Caroline Onchoka, the boy was arrested on Tuesday following some alleged information regarding his connection with the leaflets.

"We arrested the boy to help us with investigations into the matter and we cannot rule out the possibility of terror attack because the boy might have been radicalised," said Onchoka.

She added that the leaflets, which were scattered in the school over the weekend, listed some other top secondary schools in the county as targets of terror attack.

The commissioner said that they could not disclose the names of the schools mentioned in the list for security reasons.

"We have already contacted the heads of these schools to be on high alert as we also appeal to any member of the public with confidential information to report to the police," she said.

She added that the leaflets, signed in Arabic, have since been taken to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and handwriting experts invited to ascertain if the student is responsible for the leaflets, which have left the school and the neighbouring community in fear.

"If the results from handwriting experts turn positive, then the student will be charged with breach of his security and that of the institution," said Onchoka.

She, at the same time, appealed to parents and the community to maintain calm as investigations are being conducted.