Senate staffer to be held longer over Parliament bomb plot
Police have been given 10 days to hold a suspect arrested in connection to an alleged Al-Shabaab plot to bomb Parliament.
The Anti Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) told a Nairobi court that Mr Ali Abdulmajid Ahmed is believed to be an Al-Shabaab linkman on a mission to assist the terrorist in “casing” Parliament buildings for a possible terrorist attack.
An affidavit presented before Milimani law courts magistrate Bernard Nzakyo stated intelligence reports had linked the suspect, an employee of Parliament, to questionable activities that needed time to unravel.
“A mobile phone belonging to the suspect is under analysis for any incriminating evidence,” police corporal Jackson Chacha states in the affidavit.
RECRUITED BY AL-SHABAAB
The suspect was arrested on April 26 at Pangani area following intelligence report that he had been recruited by Al-Shabaab to help them carry out the plot, the court heard.
“The two situation reports dated April 23 and February 17 from Central Division Nairobi, in regards to possible terrorist attack of vital government installations, refers to the suspect,” the officer says in the sworn affidavit.
Mr Abdul was not present in court when the application for his extended detention was made.
“The suspect may be charged with terrorism related offences if investigators arrive at evidence to incriminate him,” Mr Chacha said in the affidavit.
The court was told that the ATPU intends to carry out extensive investigations which may necessitate traveling to Kitale and thus needs time to carry a comprehensive probe.
The suspect is being detained at the Kileleshwa police station to enable completion of investigations.
“He is considered dangerous to the security of this country bearing in mind the mayhem terrorism has caused before,” the affidavit read.
Mr Abdul, who was also the vice chairperson of Pumwani Riyadh Mosque, has been linked to terrorism before.
In 2011 the UN monitoring Group on Eriteria and Somalia linked him to terror activities.
His arrest came after police said Al Shabaab agents were plotting to plant bombs in Parliament and other key targets.