Writes Leo Odera Omolo
Kenyans living in big cities are currently in great state of panicking following the threat issues by the Alqaeda trained Somalia based terrorists that they are planning to bring down all the tall buildings in the country within the next two weeks.
A local daily had carried the content of the threat in its front page news headline on Saturday .The NAIROBI STAR while quoting an American intelligence company that has warned that the Alshabaab is planning a major fresh attack on the tallest buildings in Kenya’s cities within two weeks.
Keeya Defene Forces last week overrunned an Al-Shabaab stronghold and captured Almadhow town,while Kenyan warships killed several militia fighters in an exchange of fire in Kismayu,the Al-Shabaab controlled port city.
However, Kenya’s Defense Minister Yusuf Haji said on Thursday tha Kenan troops will soon flush out the terrorists fighters out from their remaining stronghold in Kismayu.
One major international new agency AP reported quoting private intelligence firm,the Intel-Center as saying Al-Shabaab has threatened to bring down Kenya’s skyscrapers within two weeks.
On Monday last week a large and powerful bomb went off on Moi Avenue in one of the busiest Nairobi streets in the capital. A woman trader was killed while close to 30 people were injured and have to be rushed to several hospitals within the city, where some of them are still undergoing treatment.
Al-Shabaab quoted an internet threat last Wednesday that “Something big is coming” and Kenyans would soon watch your towers come down,within two weeks from now and you will weep.”
This is the third time Al-Shabaab has aid it would target Kenya’s tall buildings.The first threat came in December last year.
Al Shabaab is suspected of being behind the Monday last week’s bomb attack in Central Nairobi that killed one person and wounded more than 30 although no one has claimed responsibility so far.
The Intel-Center said that the latest threat of a large attack in Kenya over the next months is high given increasing number of threat from Al-Shabaab.
“The Tower most likely to be targeted are those housing big hotels,especially those frequented by Western government offices, media and prominent corporations. The building volume and low level activity indicate that such an attack may be attempted sooner or later.”The Virginia based Intel-Center was quoted as saying that Al-Shabaab and Alqaeda formally linked up earlier this year though their ties has hundreds of foreign fighters including many with combat experience from Iraq and Afghanistan.
In April the US government warned that it continues to receive information about potential terrorist attack in Kenya.
An Amisom / TFG offensive on three fronts is threatening to push the Al-Shabaab militia fighters out of their stronghold hideout at Kismayu. As it is a set-back,security experts have warned that the Al-shabaab are likely to resort to terror attacks and guerrilla warfare in Kenya and in the neighboring countries.
Ends