The suspect, Khalid Mohamed, who has been on police trail for terrorism and explosives and detonator recovered from a house raid. Photo/ELKANA JACOB
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Detectives in Mombasa raided a house in Bondeni and arrested a wanted terror suspect with explosives on Tuesday morning.
The suspect, Khalid Mohamed, has been in the police radar for terrorism.
According to intelligence report shared within police and other security agencies, the suspect is an al Shabaab member who is well trained to handle dangerous and powerful explosives.
Mohamed is also said to have recruited several youth into the militia group in Somali.
A combined team of ATPU, GSU and regular police officers raided the house and recovered a hand grenade of Russian make, one detonator and a plastic explosive.
Detectives also recovered a truck belonging to the suspect in the Boni forest, which was used to supply weapons and food.
Over 200 terror suspects are still hiding within the forest, which covers Lamu, Tana River and Garissa counties.
The suspect was booked at Central police station in Mombasa and will be charged with three counts; being in possession of dangerous explosives, being a member of al Shabaab and ferrying supplies to terror suspects.
Regional police commander Robert Kitur, confirmed the arrest but declined to give more details.
"We have confiscated his mobiles which will assist us in our investigations, " he said.
Mombasa county commissioner Nelson Marwa has called a press briefing in his office to address security situation.