Police on high alert after city explosion scare

Police have cautioned the public to be cautious following an explosion at a building on Accra Road, Nairobi on Saturday.

Nairobi County Police Commander, Mr Japhet Koome said the explosion happened at the pavement of a building at the junction of River Road and Accra Road at around 11.30am.

“Immediately after the explosion, there was a fire which the public managed to put off and we realised that there was a bag weighing around 15Kg that had been abandoned at the pavement.

“Officers from the Bomb Disposal Unit came to the scene and realised that the bag contained a white powder that has since been taken to the Government Chemist for analysis. There was however no bomb inside the bag,” Mr Koome said.

He said investigations into the incident had begun and that police officers have been deployed to various parts of the city to keep vigil.

“We have collected several CCTV footages from buildings around that area and he hope they will help us in apprehending whoever left the bag there,” Mr Koome said.

He asked members of the public to be vigilant and watch out for abandoned items in public places and vehicles, saying that the terror threat was real.

“We have deployed several police officers but the public must also get involved and give information to the police,”Mr Koome said.

No one was injured by the explosion.