Sniffer dog blamed for bomb scare at Canadian High Commission
A sniffer dog on Thursday raised a false alarm when parcels were being delivered to the Canadian High Commission in Gigiri, Nairobi, causing a four-hour lockdown.
According to police, a FedEx van was delivering visa application documents when the G4S dog barked after sniffing on the van, indicating it had detected something suspicious.
This caused panic and fear in the complex.
ROAD BLOCKED
Immediately after the alarm, extra security checks were put in place and the section of Limuru road between Muthaiga mini-market roundabout and the UN Avenue was blocked for hours by General Service Unit officers and detectives.
Embassy personnel were evacuated and told to stay away.
Those who had not reported to work were to remain at home.
“The Canadian High Commission is currently off-limits. All core business staff, locally engaged staff and spouses not at the High Commission are to remain at home. Update to follow,” the alert read.
Traffic police officers diverted vehicles to other roads. A bomb disposal team from the Directorate of the Criminal Investigations arrived at the embassy to inspect the suspicious packages.
The team was later joined by the acting Commandant Diplomatic Police Unit Ambrose Mwawaka, Gigiri OCPD Vitalis Otieno and his DCI counterpart Daniel Kandie.
DECLARED SAFE
Around 11.40am, Inspector-General of Police Joseph Boinnet declared the place safe. Mr Boinnet said the 35-kilogramme parcel contained visa forms and that the bomb disposal unit team of Mr Eliud Langat, had declared the cargo and the area safe.
The embassy is guarded by the GSU officers but has contracted the KK Security company to man the gates and screening machines but replaced them with G4S a few months ago.
The G4S officers are usually accompanied by a number of dogs.
The company’s communication officer Yvette Miyoma did not respond to questions from the Nation.
The heavily-guarded embassy borders Kenya Technical Teachers College and the Rwandan embassy.