Businessman arrested for allegedly funding terrorism in Mombasa

A team of Kenya's anti- terrorism police officers were on Tuesday interrogating a Somali businessman in the coastal city of Mombasa after being arrested on Monday.

Mombasa County police commander Robert Kitur confirmed the arrest on Tuesday, saying the businessman, Alweys Omar, is believed to behind the funding of terrorism activities in the country.

"It's an operation by anti-terror officers. They are still interrogating him in connection with terrorism activities in the country," Kitur said.

Omar was earlier this year cleared of terrorism-related charges alongside another suspect Issa Matan, a refugee in Kenya. The bank accounts of the suspects were also scrutinised but detectives found nothing related with terrorism activities.

A senior officer from the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) told Xinhua that Omar has been airlifted to Nairobi for in-depth and cross border investigation with possibility of being deported to Somalia. The officers have been monitoring his financial transaction suspected to be supporting terrorism activities.

"We have been investigating dubious bank transactions deposited in his accounts, acting on highly placed intelligence information, " said one of the officers who sought anonymity.

Detectives are probing some Mombasa businessmen for alleged funding terror activities in the country. The businessmen are said to be directly linked with international wiring of funds that support terror activities which include firearms supply and recruitments.

Mombasa Criminal Investigation Department commander Henry Ondiek said they have heightened intelligence gathering on counter- terrorism in the country.

"The Unit is probing at several foreign and local bank accounts suspected to be used by the suspects to support terrorism activities. Once we gather credible evidence they will be arrested and prosecuted," Ondiek said.

The East African nation is reeling from a spate of terrorist attacks targeting innocent civilians in places of worship, shopping malls and restaurants.

The police have also admitted that despite a boost in security the threat remained, urging Kenyans and shopping malls to remain vigilant and to "do more" to prevent attacks. Endi