Kenya nabs 8 terror suspects in coastal region

Kenya's security forces on Tuesday arrested eight wanted terror suspects in an ongoing counter-terrorism operation in the coastal region following reports of possible attacks during the month of Ramadan.

A police officer said four terror suspects were arrested in a mosque in the coastal town of Lamu on Monday while four others were arrested in Kwale town.

The four suspects arrested in Lamu have been moved to Malindi, where they will be charged over terrorism activities.

The four were allegedly planning attacks in Lamu county, which has previously seen bloody attacks by Somalia's Islamist group Al-Shabaab.

"We arrested the four after locals alerted security agents of strangers in one of the mosque who were holding secret meeting," said an anti-terror police unit officer in Lamu.

The suspects were arrested just hours after five police officers were killed by suspected Al-Shabaab militants in Mandera county near the Somali border.

The police officer said the other four were being interrogated over planned terrorist attacks in Kwale county and killing of three government officials.

The four -- Ibrahim Mohammed Abdi, Hamisi Kassim, Idris Aden and Shadrack Mondao Kaya -- are believed to be Al-Shabaab members who have undergone military training in Somalia.

They were arrested during a dawn operation in Kabigoni area, where another terror suspect identified as AlI Salim was gunned down on Monday. Enditem