Wednesday, October 09, 2013
An internal report by Kenya's National Intelligence Service shows that
it believes al-Qaida-linked extremists pose multiple threats to the East
African country and indicates a high level of penetration into their
operations. The report contains security briefings over the past year
for Kenyan government and security officials.Authorities have been accused of bungling the operation to retake
Nairobi's upscale Westgate Mall from terrorists who stormed into it on
Sept. 21, killing more than 60 people and holding parts of it for
several days. The Somali Islamic extremist group al-Shabab, which has
collaborators in Kenya, claimed responsibility for the attack.
Some excerpts from the report:
SITUATION
REPORT FOR SEPT. 21, 2012: "the following suspected Al Shabaab
operatives are in Nairobi and are planning to mount suicide attacks on
undisclosed date, targeting Westgate Mall and Holy Family Basilica;
Sheikh Abdiwelli Mohamed, Sheikh Hussein and Sheikh Hassan. They are
believed to be in possession of two suicide vests, twelve (12) hand
grenades and two (2) AK 47 rifles, and have already surveyed the two
targets. They are being assisted by Sheikh Hassan alias Blackie of
Majengo and Omar Ahmed Ali alias Jerry who are currently staying near
Mamba Petrol Station and Huruma Mosque along Juja Road.
SITUATION
REPORT FOR FEB. 1, 2013: "Other reports indicate that by late December
2012, Al- Shabaab was training female operatives to engage in hijacking
of aircrafts and crashing them as well as suicide bombing. Upon
completion they were to be sent to western countries and to countries
which had contributed troops to AMISOM (the African Union peacekeeping
mission to Somalia).
"The envisaged modus operandi include, but is
not exclusive to, Mumbai-attack style, where the operatives storm into a
building with guns and grenades and probably hold hostages."
SITUATION
REPORT FOR JUNE 25, 2013: Radicalization of Muslim youth is also going
on, especially in Mombasa and Nairobi. In Mombasa, Sheikh Ibrahim Ismael
Amru has been giving lectures at Masjid Minaa in Kisauni, urging
muslims to support Jihad." (Gunmen killed the Muslim cleric and three
others in Mombasa on Thursday. The cleric's supporters alleged that the
killing was a reprisal by Kenyan security forces for the attack on
Nairobi's Westgate Mall.)
SITUATION REPORT FOR AUG. 26, 2013:
"Some Al-Shabaab operatives whose identities are yet to be established
are planning to attack Times Tower and Nyayo House buildings within
Nairobi on an unspecified date. They intend to use fire engines loaded
with explosives to carry out the attacks."
BRIEFS TO OTHER
RELEVANT GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND OFFICIALS: "During the month of
September 2013 following a noticeable rise in the level of threat,
specific briefs on the threat were made to the following: ... Cabinet
Secretary, National Treasury, Cabinet Secretary, Interior, Cabinet
Secretary, Foreign Affairs, Cabinet Secretary, Defence, Chief of
Defence Forces (CDF)
"Briefs were made to them informing them of
increasing threat of terrorism and of plans to launch simultaneous
attacks in Nairobi and Mombasa on 13th and 20th September, 2013."