Suspects who planned to bomb Milimani courts to remain in custody

Suspects who planned to bomb Milimani courts to remain in custody

Nairobi Milimani Court has granted a request by the Anti Terrorism Police Unit to continue holding five terror suspects believed to have planned an attack on Milimani Magistrate Court.

According to the investigators, the suspects were on a mission and wanted to rescue Marsabit Sheikh Guyo Gorsa on Friday, February 16, the day he was scheduled to be arraigned to take plea on terrorism related charges.

In her ruling, Senior Principal Magistrate Martha Mutuku directed that Abdimajit Adan, Mohammed Nane, John Maina, Antony Kitila alias rasta and Lydia Nyawira remain in custody for 30 more days to allow completion of  the investigations.

According to court documents, the arrests were made between February 15 and 23. Two of the suspects were arrested on February 15 at Merti area within Isiolo County as they were transporting a cache of arms to Nairobi to carry out the attack, while three others were arrested later in Nairobi county in different areas.

At the time of their arrest, a number of items including explosives devices, some of which were improvised bombs and inbuilt in three motor vehicles.

Investigations carried out so far show that the five have been in constant communication with a number of well-known Al Shabaab terrorists based in Somalia.

On the day when the two maim suspects were arrested, police on patrol at Merti police station spotted a vehicle and on approaching the car, the occupants opened fire on police officers which triggered fire exchange and one of the suspect was shot dead in the process.

On searching the vehicle, police recovered a 5 AK-47 rifles, 36 fully loaded magazines, 36 unprimed hand grenades, 18 improvised explosive devices, 3 military knives, keys of a room believed to have been rented in a hotel within Nairobi CBD.

A motor vehicle KBM 200D was fitted with explosives devices embedded in the body of the vehicle for purpose of acting as a car bomb.

Investigators say that investigations and interviews with the suspects linked many telephone numbers of persons believed to have been involved in the planning of the terror attack.

Police also found a tenancy agreement of a house within Rongai area, where a search has since been conducted and more items including two log books were recovered.

Police told the court they are still in pursuit of other vehicles.

“The respondents were headed to launch an attack at the Milimani Chief Magistrate court on February 16 when Sheikh Guyo Gorsa was expected to appear in court to take plea in terrorism and related charges and the attack was meant to illegally free him from custody,” read an affidavit filed in court.

The case will be mentioned on on April 16, 2018 when investigators are expected to report back on the investigation process.

Tags:

Milimani Law courts Terror Suspects Senior principal magistrate Martha Mutuku Sheikh Guyo Gorsa Marsabit Sheikh Guyo Gorsa

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