Heavy police presence in Kisauni ahead of Friday prayers

There was heavy police presence in the Mwandoni area of Kisauni, Mombasa County, in the morning ahead of Friday midday prayers.

This development followed the closure of the Masjid Swafaa and Minaa mosques, which police claim are being used as venues for radicalising young men.

Police said that on Thursday night, youths attempted to enter the Swafaa mosque for the 8pm prayers but were countered by security agents.

Kisauni OCPD Richard Ngatia told the Nation that a group of youths broke the scene-of-crime police tape and made their way into the mosque.

“The mosque that we had closed was broken into by the radical youths, so we just went back and closed it,” Mr Ngatia confirmed.

He declined to comment on whether anyone was arrested, but unconfirmed reports said that at least 13 people were arrested and taken to the Bamburi Police Station.

HIGH TENSION

For the past four days, there has been high tension in the Kisauni area after police raided the Swafaa and Minaa mosques in an effort to stamp out radical youths and criminals causing terror among the residents.

Security officials have maintained that the four mosques, Swafaa, Minaa, Sakina and Musa (Shuhaada), will remain closed.

The youths had forced their way into the Swafaa mosque, one of the three that had been closed to facilitate investigations into allegations that young men we being radicalised there.

Mombasa County Commander Robert Kitur said police had to fire in the air and lob tear-gas canisters at the youths who engaged them.

Mr Kitur added that worshippers were advised to seek alternative places to hold their prayers until police clear the four mosques.