Kenyan police nab two terror suspects, seize grenades

Kenyan police said on Saturday that they were interrogating two terror suspects who were arrested on Friday in the coastal town of Kwale and northeast border town of Mandera near the Somali border.

Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet said during the two operations, security officers also recovered two grenades and some bullets.

Boinnet said one suspect Stephen Wagechi was arrested on Friday while sneaking into Mandera from Bula Hawa in neighboring Somalia

"The police also arrested wanted terror suspect Juma Mwengo in Likoni, Kwale County," said Boinnet in a statement, adding that two grenades, 10 rounds of ammunition and other terror paraphernalia such as CDs with radical preaching were seized

He said the suspects, believed to have been planning terror attacks on unspecified locations in Kenya during the Easter holiday, are in custody for further interrogation and subsequent court appearance.

Security analysts said the arrest of Mwengo was a blow to the Somalia-based Al-Shabaab, a terrorist group that is on a steady decline and defeat by Kenya.

The arrests came as Kenya was on high alert during the Easter holidays after intelligence reports warned of high risk of terrorism in the country.

The intelligence service had warned of possible attacks against soft targets including churches in the northeast region and security personnel and their facilities.

Police Spokesman George Kinoti on Thursday confirmed that security forces were on a high alert after receiving intelligence reports that nine terrorists were planning to strike in the country.

Police have said in a security report that Kenyan suspects are moving back to the country following sustained attacks by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and Somalia National Army. Endit