Kenya questions Islamic State terror suspect

Kenyan police are interrogating a female terror suspect linked to Islamic State group after being deported from India at the weekend.

The anti-terrorism police officers have obtained court orders to detain Amina Mwaiz Muange, a Kenyan believed to be a sympathizer of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terror group, for a month to complete investigations.

Anti-Terrorism Police Officer Simon Mutiso said in his affidavit seen on Wednesday that Muange was deported by the Indian government on suspicion that she is an ISIS member with and has other associates who intended to start an ISIS African Chapter.

"The investigators require phone details and records from the known telephone service providers that the suspect has been using in India and Kenya," Mutiso told the Chief Magistrate Court in Nairobi.

A police report seen on Wednesday said Muange had been trailed from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where she worked, to India, where she had accompanied her employers for a visit.

The police said the suspect was linked to Siraj Mohamed, with whom she is thought to have had a romantic relationship. Mohamed is on a watch list of Indian authorities because it is suspected he has ties with the terrorist group.

"This case illustrates the extent of global terrorism and how groups such as ISIS take advantage of vulnerable individuals to advance their cause," the police said.

Security experts say Kenya has been a soft target for terrorist activities since 1998 and the menace has evolved as radical groups from the Horn of Africa infiltrate the country to kill and maim innocent civilians.

They said what has changed and is noticeable for it is the increase in vigilance by the general public and the fact that if they see something that they consider to be suspicious, they are more likely to report it to the police than they were.

The police, on their side, the experts said, are becoming more professional in their assessment of potential incidents.

The police said investigations require detailed analysis of information from the Indian government and further investigations is also required within and outside Kenya.

"The suspect is believed to be conducting radicalistion programmes for the youth in Kenya, India and the African continent and it is suspected that she has been facilitating them joining ISIS," the police said.

Kenyan authorities are now working closely with security agents of other countries mentioned in a probe to unravel the extent of the network of the terror group.

Officials say cooperation between Kenya and India security agencies had led to the arrest and deportation of the woman.

"It will take close cooperation between governments to ensure the protection of their vulnerable populations from exploitation by these groups as well as penetrate these networks," the report says.

While in Abu Dhabi, Muange had started visiting social media sites with links to ISIS in an attempt to find a way to go to Syria.

"In the course of this search she got in touch with ISIS supporters in India, Afghanistan, Burundi, Kenya and South Africa with whom she kept regular contact. This also raised the alarm on her activities to various security agencies," the police said.

It is not clear what kind of job Muange was engaged in while in UAE. Endit