Kenya police issue terror alert over Ramadan

There are fears of fresh terror attacks in Kenya, police warned as  Muslims started marking the holy month of Ramadan today.

The month-long fasting could start tomorrow depending on sighting of the moon and is expected to stretch on till July 17. Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet, while issuing the alert, assured Kenyans, including Muslims, that adequate security would be provided during the Ramadan.

Some foreign countries as Australia have already issued travel advisories against Nairobi.     “Kenyan authorities have issued a public warning that al-Shabaab intends to carry out attacks in Kenya during Ramadan. Authorities have encouraged extra vigilance during this time. The level of advice has not changed,” the Australian embassy in Nairobi said.

 “We continue to advise Australians to reconsider their need to travel to Nairobi, Mombasa and coastal parts of Kilifi and Tana River counties and all of Lamu county. We advise against all travel to border regions with Ethiopia, South Sudan and Somalia. We advise Australians to exercise a high degree of caution in Kenya overall.” 

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The British government today told their citizens that earlier travel advisories still stand maintaining no-go advice to Garissa, Eastleigh, Lamu and Tana River counties.

“There is a high threat from terrorism, including kidnapping. The main threat comes from extremists linked to Al Shabaab, a militant group that has carried out attacks in Kenya in response to Kenya’s military intervention in Somalia,” a statement from the high commission in Nairobi said.

This is the first time police are warning of a terror attack during a Muslim celebration. Usually, terrorist attacks in Kenya have targeted non-Muslims in the previous past. According to Islamic faith, Ramadan is the holiest month in the year, when the Qur’an, the holy book of Islam, was revealed to the prophet Muhammad.

During Ramadan, Muslims refrain from a number of activities, mainly eating, drinking and smoking, between sunrise and sunset. On June 14, Kenya defence forces foiled an attack in Lamu killing 15 al-Shabaab militants on the eve of the Mpeketoni memorial. 

One of the terrorists killed has since been identified as British Thomas Evans who contacted his family and said that he had joined the militants.

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