A terrorist suspect was apprehended on his way to Somalia to join the Al Shabaab militant group on Tuesday in Lunga Lunga, Kwale County.
According to police, the 26-year-old suspect, Abdul Hamid, is a Canadian national who claimed he was joining the terror group to fight for Jihadism.
The suspect was arrested while trying to board a motorcycle at the Jua Kali trading center.
Officers from the Lunga Lunga police station, along with their counterparts from the directorate of criminal investigations, responded to a distress call from boda boda operators who reported his suspicious activities.
Interrogation revealed that Hamid was on his way to Mombasa via Malindi, then into the Boni forest toward Somalia.
The suspect is believed to have been helped by some network with terror cells operating in the region and has been taken into custody of the Anti-Terror Police Unit for further questioning.
“We have the suspect in our custody and doing whatever possible to expedite the investigation and even go after those who are part and parcel of the network,” the regional commissioner John Elungata said.
According to the officers, he will be taken to court as the multi-agency team seeks at least 21 days to complete their investigations.
“We want to ensure our people of their safety, therefore there is no need for alarm. Our law enforcement officers across the region are on high alert not only during this festive season but at all times, “ Elungata added.
According to police reports, there is an active terror cell in Kwale that is recruiting locals for the Al Shabaab terror group.
A multi-agency security team has been deployed along the border to prevent any further attempts by terror suspects to enter the country.
