Terror case heard in camera as UK detectives testify

A terror case involving a British national was Thursday heard in camera before a Mombasa court.

Foreign and local journalists were locked out of Shanzu law courts situated within Shimo La Tewa maximum prison moments after the defense and prosecution team arrived.

Two British police detectives from the New Scotland Yard were scheduled to testify against their compatriot, Mr Jermaine John Grant.

The two witnesses, who also include a woman police detective, took part in forensic investigation of the case in which Mr Grant Grant alias Ali Mohamed Ibrahim alias Peter Joseph and Kenyans Warda Breik Islam and Frank Nyenyo Ngala are charged with being in possession of explosive materials.

The three suspects were allegedly found in possession of acetone, hydrogen peroxide, ammonium nitrate, sulphur sublimed and lead nitrate chemicals, four size AA batteries, an electric switch and a piece of electric current conducting wire.

The offence was allegedly committed on December 20, 2011 in Kisauni area within Mombasa.

Mr Grant and Ms Warda also denied an alternative charge of being in possession of explosive materials.

Another Scotland Yard computer forensic detective Steven Ball testified last month and informed the trial court how he retrieved terrorism and jihad materials gathered from several websites and saved on a purple Sony flash disc allegedly recovered from Mr Grant.

In his evidence before senior principal magistrate Joyce Gandani, Mr Ball however said some of the material had been deleted but he managed to reconstruct a few, including one touching on explosive and bomb making chemicals.

Mr Ball told the court that he examined the content of the flash disc and extracted others in a file on weaponry and assorted explosives saved on December 11, 2011, using forensic techniques.

“Some speak of use of volt meter when used to test explosives detonators and fuses, deception bombs or booby trap,” he said.

He went on: “I have personal knowledge of this document. I’ve seen it numerous times and the methods of creating devices or items that would hurt someone such as explosives or electric shocks. These documents are always aimed against the establishment.”

Mr Ball alleged that Grant frequented many websites, some linked to terrorists groups, to read information on bomb making and explosives.