Police 'duped' over terror attack

By Cyrus Ombati

NAIROBI; KENYA: Police were taken on a wild goose chase in Nairobi after they were informed a salon car had been packed with explosives and was headed for a mission in the city centre.

A caller claimed on Thursday evening a navy blue Subaru Forester car registration number KAQ152E, had explosives that were aimed to be used at an undisclosed place, spinning police into a hunt that did not bore any fruits.

But the owner of a black Subaru Forester with similar registration numbers Mr Alex Chege walked to Central police station several hours later and said he had been informed his car is wanted over allegations of it bearing explosives.

Chege who runs a private secondary school in Githurai area said he had received several calls from friends, relatives and the insurance firm that has insured his car seeking to know his fate and that of the vehicle.

“I received the first call while I was in a matatu to town and I thought the call who I know well was joking. It hit me hard when the calls kept coming and the point when an agent from Amaco Insurance called forcing me to go and check on it,” said Chege.

He said he had left the car at a garage in Ngara area on Thursday at about 5 pm after it developed mechanical problems and left for his home.

Chege who suspects business rivalry to be behind the call to police said he went with the keys of the car home adding he is a law abiding citizen.

“Police have checked the car and failed to find any explosive as claimed. I am asking them to establish the source of this information because I cannot use it for now,” he said at the police station.

He refused to be photographed saying it can ruin his business. Chege said he had been using the car for the better part of Thursday before he drove it to the garage at about 5 pm.

Apparently, that is the time police were informed of the explosives being in the car being driven into the city centre.

And after he arrived at Central police station, the commander Krop Lipa accompanied him to the garage where they oversaw its towing to the station.

Chege said he feared driving it to the station because of the wide circulation it had had for the better part of yesterday in the media and police communication channel.

At the station, he was grilled and recorded statements before he was released but the car was detained. Central CID boss Richard Bitok said they had called bomb experts to comb and dust it to confirm if it ever carried the said explosives.

“We have to confirm if the claims are true of not by involving experts who will dust it later. We did not find any explosives,” said Bitok.

Police had sought the help of the public in tracing the car saying the car was spotted in Ngara area and Tom Mboya Street in the city but sped off as police chased it on foot because of the heavy traffic jam that was being experienced then.

Nairobi Area head of CID Nicholas Kamwende said he was impressed by the way in which the public responded to the alarm they had raised.

“As much as it can turn out to be a hoax, we are impressed that the public is alert and really eager to help in such situations. We urge for continued alertness because terror threats are real,” said Kamwende.

He added police are still on alert following continued threats from terrorists to attack crowds and installations.

In Mariakani area, Mombasa, five suspects were arrested from a bus while enroute to the Coastal city and a pistol recovered from them.

They were headed to Mombasa when police stopped it for a check and found the weapon. Coast deputy police boss Robert Kitur said the suspects had a terror mission in Mombasa.