Nairobi — Police in Lamu are questioning two Comoros nationals who were arrested at the weekend over possible links with terrorism activities in Somalia.

Lamu police boss Samson ole Kinne said the Comorans were arrested on Sunday in Kiunga town a few hours after they had illegally crossed into the country on foot.

He said the two claimed that they were fishermen from the Comoros and that they had walked from Ras Kamboni, an area in Somalia controlled by the al Shabaab militia group, where they said they had been dumped by pirates who had hijacked their ship in the high seas.

"They told us that the pirates took them to Ras Kamboni and ordered them to walk to Kenya to seek help," he said.

But police said they suspected that the two could have undergone military training in Somalia after being recruited by Islamic groups.

"We are not taking any chances. You never know, they could have been taken there for military training but let us not pre-empt the situation," said Mr ole Kinne.

Police sources also said interrogating the two was proving to be difficult because they do not speak either English or Kiswahili.

The sources said Anti-Terrorism Police Unit officers were also interrogating them.

The incident comes at a time when security along the Kenya-Somalia border has been beefed up following increasing threats by al Shabaab militants to attack Kenya.

Last week, the group was said to be planning to raid Hola prison to free one of their members who was sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted of defiling a minor in Hulugho, Ijara District.

Since then, police from Tana River and Ijara have been put on high alert and have increased surveillance to forestall any attacks.