Patrick Mayoyo
27 December 2002
Nairobi — The suspect and three others hired flat in Tudor Estate in Mombasa
One of the key suspects wanted in connection with the twin November 28 terrorist attacks in Mombasa had stayed in Yemen before returning home in August, police said yesterday.
Mr William Langat, the Deputy Commissioner of Police leading investigations into the attacks, said his team had zeroed in on four prime suspects and that they had launched a manhunt for them.
"Our investigations are in top gear, and although we have a number of suspects, we are looking for four people we believe were part of the terror attacks masterminds," he said.
Mr Langat said one of them was a young man from Majengo area in Mombasa, who the police were told stayed in Yemen most of the time.
"The suspect is said to have returned to the country in April and married before going back to Yemen and returning in August," he said.
Mr Langat said the suspect is among three people who hired a flat in Mombasa's Tudor estate where it is suspected the bomb used in the terrorist attack on the Israeli-owned Paradise Hotel in Kikambala, 25km from Mombasa.
The police chief said his officers were also looking for two people who were with another prime suspect, Mr Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan, when he went to buy a Mitsubishi Pajero suspected to have been used in the attack.
Mr Langat said police were looking for two other key suspects seen at the scene of the attack on the Arkia Airline jet near Moi International Airport that occurred simultaneously with the Paradise Hotel attack.
So far police have released four pictures they say are of prime suspects.
They have also said that a Sh500,000 reward would be paid to anyone who gave information leading to the arrest of the suspects.
Yesterday a director of Muslims for Human Rights, Mr Khelef Khalifa, asked the police to stop harassing Mombasa residents over the attacks.
Mr Khalifa said that instead of going after the key suspects, the police were arresting their relatives when they fail to get them.
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