Suspects in JKIA blast taken to court
What you need to know:
- Police say the attack was planned and executed by the four together with others who are yet to be arrested
Four people were on Monday in court over the suspected terrorist attack at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on January 16, 2014.
Hassan Abdi Mohammed, Mohammed Osman Ali, Yusuf Warsame and Garad Hassan Fer are believed to be members of Al-Shabaab and police say they are directly linked to the explosion at a Java coffee shop outlet in the airport.
However, they were not charged as a Somali interpreter was not present at the court. The case was deferred to Tuesday.
Police say the attack was planned and executed by the four together with others who are yet to be arrested.
An affidavit produced in court said after the suspects were arrested, they led police to a residence in Ushirika estate in Eastlands where military explosives were recovered.
The police say the suspects have an unknown amount of explosives hidden in an undisclosed area meant to be used for terrorist attacks and want to oppose their release on bail.
IED IN ABANDONED LUGGAGE
The Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo had earlier reported that the blast was caused by a loose light bulb that fell, causing some fire. However, preliminary investigations pointed to an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) that was inside abandoned luggage. (READ: Police seize 3 linked to JKIA blast)
On January 19, police arrested three suspects in connection with the explosion but Directorate of Criminal Investigations chief Ndegwa Muhoro said the main suspect, who had hired the vehicle in which a man of Somali origin was found shot dead, is still at large. (READ: Anti-terror police probe dead man's link to JKIA explosion)
Police found three SIM cards and a cup belonging to the Java Coffee shop in the car— an indication that occupants had visited one of the restaurant’s outlets.
