Three detained for 14 days over suspected terror plot

Osman Mohamed Hassan, Mohamed Ibrahim Hassan and Hussein Ibrahim Hassan in the dock, Mombasa Law Courts. [Joackim Bwana, Standard]

Three foreigners have been detained by a Mombasa court for 14 days pending investigations into claims they had planned to carry out a terror attack after the Easter holiday.

Senior Principal Magistrate Vincent Adet, on Tuesday, allowed the Anti-Terror Police Unit to detain Osman Mohamed Hassan, Mohamed Ibrahim Hassan, and Hussein Ibrahim Hassan (all of them from Somalia) following an application by the police so they can complete investigations into the claims.

“I will allow the application as prayed and the respondents will be detained for 14 days,” said Adet.

The suspects have ties with known terror operatives in Somalia, according to an affidavit sworn by the police.

“Intelligence reports have revealed that there is an imminent threat of attacks which was planned by seven Al-Shabaab operatives dispatched from Somalia within the Coastal region after the Easter holiday,” said state prosecutor Hillary Isiaho.

Isiaho told the court that the respondents were in constant communication with the said terror operatives and that investigators will require more time to probe the matter, especially because the suspects are foreigners.

He said they believe Mohamed Ibrahim Hassan is a Somali national who sneaked into the country for unknown missions and allegedly tried to acquire Kenyan registration.

He said the investigating team requires to visit Dadaab and IFO refugee camps in Garissa County where Mohamed Ibrahim Hassan is believed to have met with other known terror operatives.

“On April 18, 2022, Hussein Ibrahim Hassan was found smuggling a cell phone into Makupa Police cell and the investigating team wishes to establish the source of the cell phone,” said Isiaho.

He said there is a parallel investigation going on in Nairobi in relation to the arrest of the three.

The prosecutor told the court that the suspects may hinder investigations if freed.

The prosecution said the police are following up on intelligence reports to make more arrests claiming there are other suspects within and outside Mombasa County.

Isiaho said the police are investigating the trio for being members of a terrorist group and being in possession of materials connected to the commission of terrorism.

However, Osman opposed the application noting the police had detained the suspects for six days since April 13 when they were arrested at night.

“I want the court to reduce the 14 days to seven. The police have already taken six days investigating the matter,” said Osman.

The three were arrested on April 13 at Muzamil Shop One at Barsheba in Kisauni sub-county. 

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