Suspected terrorists detained for probe

A Landcruiser fitted with VHF communication equpment and a Toyota Fielder at Pangani Police Station on October 12, 2015. They were being used by the eight suspects arrested in Eastleigh. PHOTO | ANGIRA ZADOCK | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The suspects were arrested along General Waruinge Road in Eastleigh at around 5.45pm on Sunday after the public alerted the police.
  • Five of them were from Somalia while the other three were Kenyans. The suspects were, however, handed over to the anti-terror detectives after the initial interrogations.

The Anti-Terror Police Unit detectives moved to court seeking orders to allow them to detain, for interrogation, eight terrorism suspects arrested in Pangani, Nairobi.

The suspects were arrested along General Waruinge Road in Eastleigh at around 5.45pm on Sunday after the public alerted the police.

A team of officers headed by Sergeant Abdinassir Noor intercepted two cars and arrested the occupants, but they were not armed.

Five of them were from Somalia while the other three were Kenyans. The suspects were later handed over to the anti-terror detectives after the initial interrogations.

Starehe OCPD Benard Nyakwaka, on Monday, said the suspects were in two vehicles, one of them a Toyota Landcruiser fitted with a VHF communication equipment.

However, by Monday evening, police had not released details of the communication equipment and what the suspects were using it for.

“We handed over the suspects to the ATPU officers on Sunday for further interrogations,” the OCPD said.

Mr Nyakwaka added that the officers also recovered another car, a black Toyota Fielder.

Among the exhibits with the police so far are the two vehicles, eight mobile phones, the suspects’ identification documents and a powder that was found in one of the vehicles.

Security agents have been on high alert leading to several arrests across the country.

A special team has been formed to monitor the refugee camps particularly the Dadaab complex, said to be a haven of terrorists and their agents.