German terror suspect arrested

By CYRUS OMBATI

Police are holding a German national believed to be the one whose photograph was circulated by police as a terror suspect on the loose.

Commissioner of Police Mathew Iteere said the suspect was arrested on Wednesday morning in Naivasha.

“This morning, an arrest was made of a German national in Naivasha. We are trying to see if he is the one whose photograph was given out,” Iteere said.

He said anti terrorism police officers had been dispatched to interrogate him and confirm his identity.

Police believe the suspect is Ahmed Khaled Mueller who is wanted for being in Kenya illegally to plot attacks with the Al Shabaab militants.

His photograph was circulated by Police headquarters on Saturday.

The suspect is believed to have entered Kenya after disguising himself.

“The said Ahmed Khaled Mueller is therefore summoned to report to the nearest police station from where he will be handed over to the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU),” police said.

Police had urged any person who knows the whereabouts of Mueller to give the information to the nearest police officer or police station.

“The public is also warned that this person is possibly armed. Ahmed Khalid Mueller is also believed to use pseudo names Andreas Martin Muller and Abu Nusaibah.”

A day later, a Swedish national was arrested in Nairobi in the crackdown on increasing number of foreigners flocking to Kenya to join Somalia’s Islamist group Al-Shabaab.

Militant group

Anti-terror police arrested Magd Najjar after they learnt he was in the country illegally and was eager to join or had joined the militant group.

Police spokesman Eric Kiraithe later said Najjar was an accomplice of Mueller and they had a similar mission in the country.

“He has been charged with being illegally in the country and we intend to ask the courts to fine him before he is deported,” said Kiraithe.

The suspect’s traveling documents showed he entered Kenya on February 23, 2011 after he was granted a visa that was to run from January 31 2011 to April 30, 2011.

And after his visa expired, he reportedly never laboured to renew it as per the law.

Police statistics show an increase of the number of foreigners flocking to Kenya seeking to join the Al-Shabaab terror group.

“They come from all countries. We have arrested people from Europe, US and even Asia who want to join Al shabaab,” said a police officer.