Police impound suspicious vehicle in Mombasa

A police officer with a sniffer dog inspects a suspicious vehicle in Mombasa on April 30, 2014. PHOTO | KEVIN ODIT

What you need to know:

  • The vehicle had been parked there for the past three days although the owner was not known
  • Vigilance at the coast has been intensified to help fight insecurity and terror threats in the region

Police in Mombasa on Wednesday impounded a suspicious vehicle that was parked behind the Central Bank of Kenya.

Mombasa County OCPD Robert Kitur said that the vehicle, a grey Toyota Sprinter, was found in the afternoon after members of the public raised the alarm.

However, it was later confirmed that the vehicle had been parked there for the past three days although the owner was not known.

Mr Kitur dismissed any bomb scare saying that it was an isolated case but it was good for members of the public to inform the security agents of such suspicious vehicles.

“We were concerned about the vehicle and we have already towed it to the county police headquarters. We haven’t found any trace of bomb-making material in the car. Although the vehicle was found parked somewhere around the Central Bank of Kenya, we are yet to find more details regarding the owner,” he said.

Vigilance at the coast has been intensified to help fight insecurity and terror threats in the region. On Tuesday, Mombasa County Commissioner Nelson Marwa assured the residents of heightened security in the coastal city in a measure to improve security.

Close to 700 security personnel drawn from the regular, administration and the General Service Unit police force have been deployed.