Kilifi ,KENYA:Police in Malindi have arrested six terror suspects as the war on terror intensifies.
The six who are said to be members of one family, were arrested in Old court area in Malindi at around 12 am (Saturday) in an operation conducted by police attached to the Anti terror unit the ATPU.
Police say the suspects of Kenyans of Arab origin have links to Alshabaab kingpin Fazul Mohammed who escaped police dragnet in Malindi in 2008 but he was later killed in an American drone strike in Somalia in 2011.
Police say they have established that Fazul had escaped to Somalia with one of the suspects arrested and identified as Moslem Naheed.
About 30 anti-terrorism police stormed the house after smashing the windows and door to gain access.
Police say they extended a search to Majengo area where a sixth suspect was nabbed and five phones and a laptop recovered.
A source aware of the operation told Baraka FM that the suspects have links with terror cells in the area.
Police say they also found some confidential documents with the suspects
Malindi police boss Matawa Muchangi confirmed the incident saying the six had been financing terror gangs in the area and in Somalia.
He said an 83 year old woman identified as Khadijah Swaleh who was also in the house at the time of the operation was not arrested because of her age but said his officers were closely monitoring her.
He said the suspects were to be transported to Mombasa police headquarters for further grilling with their phones being confiscated by police officers.
“We have been monitoring their moves and this is a breakthrough.They are Alshabaab financiers and we have crucial information”, said the police boss.
