Anti- terror police detain Kenya Shabaab suspects

Two Kenyan Al-Shabaab suspects have been detained by anti-terrorism police.

The two men identified as Sylvester Owino Opiyo alias Musa Osodo and Hussein Nderitu Abbas alias Mohamed are wanted by the police as they "have vital information on Al-Shabaab activities in Kenya," police spokesman Eric Kiraithe said Saturday.

"Police have cause to believe they have information which can assist us in unravelling any intended criminal activities by the Al-Shabaab in the country," Mr Kiraithe added.

They had surrendered themselves to the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (APTU) in Nairobi accompanied by their lawyer Chaacha Mwita.

Earlier, police had released the photographs of the two men.

“I had to surrender them to police since they are being viewed by the public as the ones who will make Christmas festivities for many unbearable. They could have even been killed after the alert message by the police,” Mr Mwita told nation.co.ke at the ATPU yard.

“We feared for our lives since members of the public could attack us and mob justice us having been declared wanted by the law enforcers,” Mr Opiyo said.

Mr Nderitu said he had to surrender after receiving a call from his father Mohammed Abass who was on his way to Nyeri.

"I was called by my dad to get in touch with Mr Mwita since I was being sought seriously by police over Al-Shabaab links. I had to oblige."

Mr Opiyo, a porter at Gikomba Market said he was carrying on his daily chores when he got a call from his lawyer and informed him police wanted to interrogate him.

“I am being punished for being a Muslim."

They were detained and will be appear in court on December 27, 2011 for undisclosed charges.

There has been heightened security around the country with security agencies at an unprecedented state of alert amid the latest reports that Al-Shabaab have planned attacks against Kenya and US interests in the country.

Churches, hotels and shopping malls are among social places being provided with blanket security in an effort to prevent a terrorist attack this festive season.

A detailed operational plan has been sent to commanders of security agencies countrywide as part of measures to avert a terrorist attack.

The plan includes a guide to officers on terrorism prevention, detection and how to act in case of an emergency.

Besides the police and the military, a number of private security firms in urban centres have also been included in confidential security plans to ensure safety during the festive period.

The new measures have also seen selected public places being upgraded, albeit temporarily, to the status known in security parlance as “vital installations".

On Friday, six suspected Al-Shabaab were arrested amid reports that the terrorist group planned to carry out attacks in Nairobi and Mombasa over the festive period. (READ: Police arrest six over Christmas terror plot)

Police commissioner Mathew Iteere said the suspects arrested on separate days this week belong to a local cell of the group with links to the global Al-Qaeda terror network.

“We’ve addressed threats in Mombasa and Nairobi. We have arrested six suspects, two in Mombasa and the others here (Nairobi). We are on high alert and we are going to increase police visibility in public places in those areas,” he said.