Court allows detectives to detain terrorism suspects for seven days

Prosecution counsel Yassir Mohamed said the allegations against the respondents were grave and required adequate time. [iStockphoto]

A court on Thursday allowed the police to detain three suspects linked to a series of robberies in Mombasa for seven days.

This is after the Anti-Terror Police Unit (ATPU) said it was investigating the suspects, Musab Abdulnasir Kassim and Mistwah Abdulnasir Kassim, who were linked to two suspected terrorists arrested in Kwale on New Year's eve.

According to an affidavit sworn by ATPU officer Japhet Yagan, the three were found with a Glock pistol, loaded with 15 rounds while trying to cross the Likoni Channel to South Coast.

Mombasa Resident Magistrate Rita Orora allowed the police to detain the suspects for a week to conclude investigations.

The two were arrested at Likoni Ferry crossing at 9.30pm on December 31. They did not have a firearms certificate. A third suspect, a woman, was arrested in Kizingo at 5am on January 1.

Yagan said the two were heading to Diani, in Kwale to meet two unknown terror operatives and were planning attacks on entertainment joints in Diani on New Year's eve.

"I am investigating a case of being a member of a terrorist group, conspiracy to commit a terrorist act and being in possession of a firearm without holding a firearm certificate. We are yet to record statements from other key witnesses and make more arrests on the same," Yagan said, adding that preliminary investigations indicate the two suspects are also linked to a spate of robberies within Mombasa Island.

The court heard that the two were also in possession of substances suspected to be illicit drugs. "There is intelligence that the suspects disguised themselves as motorbike delivery riders in Mombasa to advance their terror activities," said Yagan.

The officer said the mobile phones recovered from the suspects have been forwarded to Cyber Forensic Laboratory for analysis.

The firearm and the ammunition have been forwarded to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations headquarters in Nairobi for ballistic examination.

Prosecution counsel Yassir Mohamed said the allegations against the respondents were grave and required adequate time.