Kenyan police grills several over twin blasts

The Kenyan government said on Tuesday the police are questioning several suspects in connection with last Saturday’s evening twin blast which killed at least two people and injured 33 others.

Thursday, April 05, 2012

The Kenyan government said on Tuesday the police are questioning several suspects in connection with last Saturday’s evening twin blast which killed at least two people and injured 33 others. Internal Security Minister Professor George Saitoti told journalists in Nairobi that among the suspects who have been questioned and those under interrogations include foreigners and Kenyans.    "Following the twin attacks last Saturday in Mombasa, police are holding a number of suspects who include Kenyans and foreigners,” Saitoti told journalists in Nairobi.    "We are keeping all the aspects of investigations under wraps so as not jeopardise investigations and cause the suspects accomplices, who we are closing in on, to flee,” he said. The minister was speaking in Nairobi while receiving a donation of seven vehicles from the British High Commissioner to Kenya, Peer Tibber, to Kenya’s Anti-Terrorism Police Unit to aid in the fight against insecurity following an escalation in acts of terror attacks which are spreading to other Kenyan towns."We cannot reveal what is going on as the matter is too sensitive and under investigation but what I can tell is that we have arrested several people who are being questioned at the moment,” the minister said.   The minister’s remarks came as a 12-year-old child who sustained injuries during the Saturday blast in Mtwapa, about 15 kilometres north of Mombasa town died on Tuesday while undergoing treatment at the hospital. Provincial Director of Medical Services Dr. Maurice Siminu who confirmed the development said the boy who died of injuries at the Coast General Hospital was among the three critically injured who had survived grenade attacks at Mtwapa.  This now brings the death toll to two with most of the injured being treated and discharged.     Saitoti warned that individuals bent on creating fear, disharmony and despondency among Kenyans will not escape the dragnet because the police are determined to get to the bottom of the matter.     The minister blamed Somali Islamic insurgents, the Al-Shabaab and its accomplices, for the attack, saying it is such terrorist activities that prompted Kenya to send its troops inside the war- torn country.    "We will look for them locally, everywhere. For the moment they can run but they won’t hide. Once the police are convinced those on the run have been reined in, the public will be informed,” the minister said.    Saitoti said the terrorists are spreading to other smaller cities after realising security in Nairobi is at an all time high.