Suspect arrested for operating 'Al Shabaab' social media accounts

Police have arrested a Kenyan suspect operating social media accounts that posted Al Shabaab claim of responsibility for Mpeketoni attacks in Lamu County.

Interior Principal Secretary Mutea Iringo confirmed that Ismail Omondi had been arrested in Nairobi on Wednesday.

He said the suspect was "just an impostor and Al Shabaab sympathiser who was linking Mpeketoni killings to Al Shabaab."

“You can see the person claiming responsibility for the attacks  is not Al Shabaab leadership. We are going to arraign him in court," Principal Secretary Mutea Iringo said.

Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo had earlier said on his official Twitter handle that “in police custody is a suspect who was operating social media accounts purportedly used by Al Shabaab to claim responsibility” without giving further details.

The suspect is the third to be arrested in connection with the Sunday/Monday killings that have left at least 60 people dead.

Ahmed Abdallah, a suspect who is alleged to be the owner of a vehicle said to have been used by the gunmen to perpetrate the attacks was arrested earlier Wednesday.

Another suspect, Salim Dyana, is alleged to have been the driver of one of the vehicles used in the attacks by the gunmen.

Mr Kimaiyo said more suspects including leaders would be interrogated.