Iranian national linked to terror activities in Kenya

A military vehicle that ran over an IED in Lamu East in October. Image: FILE

NAIROBI, Kenya - An Iranian national has been linked to terror activities in Kenya, a report filed by the East Africa nation's security agencies has confirmed, adding that the suspect's network also expands across the borders.

Mohammed Saeid Golabi is said to have conducted terror activities in Kenya and other neighboring countries, with travel documents showing that he has been frequenting Nairobi and other neighboring regions. He's targeting both Kenya and Israeli businesses.

Multiple police sources have told The Star that they have been monitoring Golabi’s terror activities and some of his local associates and they are convinced that there is a link between him and terrorism activities.

“We have profiled him and his contacts over time. We have enough reason to believe that he has been working with those terror groups,” said a senior official at the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit.

Golabi is suspected to be an Iranian intelligence officer and works with a team of Kenyans to gather intelligence against establishments both private and state-owned with the aim of attacking them.

There was no immediate comment from the Iranian government.

The security report, seen by the Star comes against the backdrop of heightened security operations in the country following the recent Kamiti Maximum Security Prison jailbreak by three terror convicts, Musharaf Abdalla, Joseph Juma Odhiambo, and Mohamed Ali Abikar.

The three runaways were recaptured on their way to Somalia to rejoin Somali based Al-Shabaab terror group.

Recently, President Uhuru Kenyatta called upon security agencies to heighten surveillance and other security operations to keep the country safe from external and internal threats.

“We have scaled up our operations and investigations on some of the leads we have. We are constantly on the lookout considering that we have been attacked before,” said DCI boss George Kinoti.

In 2012, two Iranians were charged with preparation to commit a felony and possession of explosives without a license. Court documents indicated that the pair led security officials to 15kg of RDX explosives hidden at a golf club in Mombasa.

The suspects, Ahmad Abolfathi Mohammed and Sayed Mansour Mousavi, both denied the charges, said they were wrongly accused, and alleged that police had tortured them, according to court transcripts.

In 2015, Kenyan security agencies arrested two terrorism suspects with alleged links to Iran, claiming that both men admitted plotting attacks on Western targets. Abubakar Sadiq Louw, 69, and Yassin Sambai Juma, 25, were accused of terrorism and espionage on behalf of Iranian state intelligence.

The security report further indicates that heightened counterterrorism efforts by the Kenyan security agencies have eroded operational spaces for local criminal elements with links to al Shabaab and other terror operatives.

GAROWE ONLINE