General view of Eastleigh shopping centre in Nairobi. Photo Hiiraan Online
Friday, September 14, 2012
Police in Nairobi on Friday recovered a cache of weapons suspected to have been amassed for a terrorist act.
Two suspects were arrested during the police operation in the sprawling Eastleigh suburb.
Twelve grenades, six bombs, four AK-47 rifles and several bullets were recovered during the dawn raid in Eastleigh's 2nd Avenue.
Nairobi deputy police boss Moses Ombati said that the operation that started at 1am ended a few hours later.
He said that each of the AK-47 had four magazines. Also recovered were 480 rounds of ammunition, six bullet proof jackets and 30 kilogrammes of explosive material.
Major attack
Mr Ombati said police had thwarted a major attack planned on churches within Nairobi this Sunday.
The Special Crime Prevention Unit (SPCU) kicked off the operation, which was later taken over by the officers from the Anti Terrorism Police Unit (APTU).
The two suspects of Somali origin were taken to the ATPU offices for questioning.