PH
Police in Kwale made a major breakthrough in the fight against terrorism after shooting dead a terror suspect and arresting three others in their Kinango hideout on Monday.
The suspects who are about 8 in number are said to be among those involved in the killing of three Nyumba Kumi elders in Diani and a motorcycle operator in Matuga constituency last month.
Police believe the terror suspects have been operating from Likoni and had shifted their base to Kinango so they can continue operating unnoticed.
A hand grenade, motorcycle and knife among other assorted items were recovered from the suspects who are said to have been on the flying squad radar after the Diani murder.
Kinango deputy County Commissioner Moses Ivuto confirmed the incident and said that Ali Salim was shot dead as he tried to escape on Monday.
“On Sunday, police arrested Ibrahim Mohamed Abdi, 17, and Hamisi Kassim, 16, at the Mbita area inside their Kabigoni forest hideout following a tip off from members of the public,” he said.
He said after arresting two of the suspects on Sunday, police revisited the hideout and two more suspects were identified by locals before one of them was shot dead.
Ivuto lauded members of public for sharing information that led to the arrest of the suspects whom he said will be charged with murder of the three elders.
“The motor cycle recovered belongs to a boda boda operator whom they also killed and therefore that is murder case they are facing,” he added.
He said they are still pursuing more suspects believed to have escaped during the afternoon raid.
“We believe the suspects were about 8 according to locals and therefore it is obvious some of them got away. Officers are on the ground and the rest will be apprehended,” he added.
