Kenya says forensic experts to reveal identity of slain Al-Shabaab suspect

Kenyan authorities said on Tuesday they have invited foreign experts to establish the identity of a terror suspect who was killed during a joint security operation to rescue abducted teacher in Garissa county last week.

Northeastern Regional Coordinator Mohamud Saleh said the forensic analysis that will carry out on the suspect will also determine whether the militant has been involved in previous terror attacks in the border region.

"We are working closely with the Dobley administration inside Somalia with a view of nabbing the suspects. We have had very good relationship with them and as we talk they are pursuing the suspects. They can run but they can hide," Saleh told journalists in Garissa town.

Saleh also displayed an assortment of weapons, rounds of ammunitions, two mobile phones and a simcard which were recovered during the security to rescue Judy Mutua, a Kenyan teacher who was abducted by the militants last week.

At the time of abduction, Mutua was working with Windle Trust, a non-governmental organization working at the sprawling Hagadera refugee camp.

Saleh said during the fierce shootout one of the kidnappers was killed while four of his accomplices escaped with gun wounds injuries while one security officer was slightly injured.

He said the security apparatus had names of the five suspects on the run whom he said had gun shot wounds expressing his optimism that they will be arrested soonest.

The government administrator said the rescue operation would not have succeeded without their input noting that this was the first successful rescue operation ever made by the Kenyan forces.

On Abdiwahid Musdaf who volunteered information that subsequently led to the rescue of the tutor, Saleh said that he had given instructions to the local security and intelligence committee to provide protection and any other assistance to the headsman.

He said the Kenyan government is concerned that most attacks are planned and executed at the refugee camps.

Saleh said he had already met the refugee authorities last week where he protested to the authorities that the refugee camps are no longer humanitarian centers and are losing the humanitarian status.

"These camps are now becoming breeding grounds for terrorism, drug trafficking, money laundering and human and arms trafficking. We believe all major attacks being carried out among them Garissa and Westgate are all planned at the refuge camps," said Saleh.

The authorities have also blamed the militants for being behind spates of kidnapping of expatriates working in the sprawling refugee camps in the incursion-prone northern region and tourists in the coastal archipelago towns of Mombasa and Lamu.

Analysts say refugee camps often do pose security challenges for host countries. Armed groups throughout the world have used them for recruits, shelter, and food, and it is likely Al-Shabaab does the same. Endit