Tanzanian police kill three suspected terrorists

DAR ES SALAAM

Police in Tanzanian’s northern town of Arusha at the weekend gunned down three suspected terrorists and recovered ammunition and materials used for making explosives and army uniforms, police said on Tuesday.

Mr Liberatus Sabas, the Arusha regional police commander, said the suspects were killed in an exchange of fire with the police.

"One of those killed has been identified as Athumani Ramadhani. He was initially arrested at Engo-Sheraton area in Sinon ward after he was suspected of being a criminal,” said Mr Sabas.

"After interrogation, he mentioned his two accomplices who were tracked down. The trio were killed when they resisted arrest and tried to dodge the police,” added the police commander.

ARABIC FLAGS

Reports said the deceased could be terrorists after they were found with two flags with Arabic inscriptions which are used by terrorist groups.

Mr Sabas said an inspection in the residence of one of the suspects found an AK-47 gun with 18 rounds of ammunition.

Other items found included five pairs of army uniform, one motorcycle, special masks used to cover faces, one pair of karate attire and five mobile phone handsets.

In April last year, Tanzanian police in Morogoro region seized explosives, army uniforms, masks, bomb detonators and a black flag used by Somalia-based Al-Shabaab militants, and arrested 10 people in connection with the devices used in terror attacks.

Terror alerts were issued last year in the east African nation’s commercial capital Dar es Salaam and the northern tourist town of Arusha.

The alerts led to stepped up security measures in regions said to be on the terrorists’ hit list.