TERROR THREAT: How police thwarted bid to sneak bomb into Uhuru GSU parade
Two people, including a former policeman, have been arrested after they were found trying to sneak a bomb into a venue where President Uhuru Kenyatta was the chief guest.
The former officer was arrested at the main gate of the General Service Unit training school in Embakasi, Nairobi, moments before the President arrived to preside over the passing out of fresh officers on Tuesday.
A security alert was issued immediately after the arrests and GSU sentries were ordered not to allow vehicles or pedestrians into the venue.
Only those carrying VIPs, including Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery were allowed in once the terror threat was discovered.
The suspects are being held at the anti-terrorism police unit headquarters. Preliminary investigations show the suspect was carrying several components which if assembled would have made a powerful bomb.
The discovery caused panic among sentries manning entrances to the venue because there was a missing component which they suspected was to be sneaked in by a third suspect.
TERRORIST GROUP
The venue was packed with people including the country’s most senior security officers.
Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet was accompanied by his deputies Joel Kitili (Kenya Police) and Samuel Arachi (Administration Police).
Families of the 1,976 officers who graduated during the ceremony were also present. The colourful ceremony went on for more than three hours without a hitch.
Detectives said the suspects may have also been out to test the level of alertness by security officers.
The arrests came just days after Al-Shabaab named Ahmed Iman, a former student at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, the leader of the Kenyan wing of the Somalia-based terrorist group.
Though a fugitive in Somalia, Iman, last week, threatened that terrorists would carry out attacks in Kenya.
