Iteere: Police foiled Easter terror attacks by Shabaab

Police say they thwarted planned attacks after receiving credible intelligence that Al-Shabaab was planning to strike in the country during the Easter festivities.

Following this intelligence, additional officers were deployed and surveillance patrols in all sensitive areas intensified. Officers from the National Security Intelligence Service, Anti-Terrorism Police Unit, Flying Squad, GSU and their regular counterparts have been closely monitoring places where large numbers of people usually gather including public transport, recreational and entertainment facilities and places of worship.

Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere on Saturday said that due to intensified covert and overt operations, the attackers were unable to hit as they had planned.

However, the Force could not deny or confirm that some suspects had been arrested.

On Friday, the police boss instructed all officers to be keen on individuals ordinarily perceived as harmless including women, those well dressed and people driving in expensive motor vehicles.

Anti-terrorism officers have been monitoring the movements and even the communication of some people believed to be close to Al-shabaab. Some of these suspects entered the country last year from Kismayu.

“We have people we suspect to have links with Al-Shabaab and we are monitoring them very closely,” said an officer who sought anonymity.

Within the city, there was heavy presence of police officers both in uniformed and without.

Al-Shabaab has previously claimed responsibilty for terror attacks in the country.