Police release three terror suspects in Malindi

Mvita MP Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir with Mr Sultan Ali Sultan (left), Mr Nassir Sultan and Mr Masud Sultan, who were arrested at a Nakumatt store in Malindi after they were released from police custody on June 30, 2016. PHOTO | CHARLES LWANGA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The fourth suspect, Mr Imran Hassan Mohamed, is still being detained alongside two others arrested on Tuesday night.
  • The three were received by their relatives who were in the company of Mvita MP Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir.

Police have released three people arrested on suspicion of being Al-Shabaab members outside a Nakumatt Supermarket in Malindi on Wednesday.

Mr Sultan Ali Sultan, Mr Nassir Sultan and Mr Masud Sultan were among four suspects arrested on Wednesday afternoon over terror allegations.

They were released after police failed to press charges linking them to terrorism.

However, the fourth, Mr Imran Hassan Mohamed is still being detained alongside two others arrested on Tuesday night when police raided a private house near Breeze Point Hotel.

The three were received by their relatives who were in the company of Mvita MP Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir.

Some relatives broke down and wept upon seeing their loved ones outside the police station.

The three narrated how they were cornered by two uniformed police officers when they went for shopping at Nakumatt Supermarket in Malindi.

It emerged that they had travelled to Malindi from Mombasa to attend a funeral service of their uncle, a business man who was gunned down by police on Tuesday night.

Their uncle is said to have died in a shootout with security agents at his home.

“As we went shopping, suddenly anti-terrorism police officers pounced on us, searched our vehicle before arresting us,’’ Mr Sultan said outside the police station.

(Editing by Joel Muinde)