Wednesday, June 22, 2016

MOMBASA (Xinhua) -- 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.

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.