Detectives buzzed by mysterious phone call happening during riverside attack

Image result for mastermind behind terrorist attack somaliaDetectives in Nairobi have launched a manhunt of Mariam Abdi who is believed to be the mastermind behind Tuesday’s terrorist attack at DusitD2 hotel Complex where 21 people were killed.

The move comes as police revealed that at least six more people linked to the attack have been arrested, bringing the total number of those nabbed to 13. However, all five militants had who stormed the DusitD2 hotel Complex on Tuesday were eliminated.

Among the suspected collaborators arrested were in Isiolo, Ushirika estate in Nairobi, Kaimosi in Kakamega, Bondeni in Mombasa and the Nairobi Central Business District.

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Interestingly, some of the terrorists were communicating with people in Kiambu and Somalia. It is believed their commander was the one talking with Shabaab militants across the border.
He even sent images of victims of the attack to unidentified persons in Somalia.

He had also talked to a man in Ruaka at the beginning of the attack.
An idea to jam communication at the complex was floated, but some commanders rejected it.

“We felt that by blocking communication we would cause panic among those trapped therein and who were in touch with their loved ones. This idea was defeated and the jammer removed from the scene,” said another official.
At about 4am, a decision was made to storm the room where the four terrorists were. They had been trapped for some time and the commandos were confident that they were worn out.

Police sources also indicated that the real name of Gichunge’s female companion was Violet Wanjiru and not Violet Kemunto as she had misled the residents of Muchatha.

Details indicate that Wanjiru alias Kemunto studied at the Masinde Muliro University and graduated with a degree in journalism in 2014.

Eric Kinyanjui who is believed to have been the commander of the attack had also been in communication with some people in Somalia as the attack unfolded.

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Two of the attackers, together with Kinyanjui are said to have had lunch at a hotel in Lavington area almost one and half-hours before they staged the attack. Detectives visited the hotel yesterday.

And as Kinyanjui and the two were having lunch in Lavington, one of the terrorists was being spruced up at a salon within the DusitD2 hotel complex. He reportedly differed with the salon attendant over whether to pay for the services in US dollars or Kenyan currency.

At the crime scene, police discovered four explosives, which the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said would be detonated at a safe location.

“This is to caution members of the public not to panic should they hear a blast since it will be a safe blast,” the DCI tweeted.Image result for terrorist on phone

Intelligence obtained from the phones found in a car used by the assailants showed that one of the terrorists was in communication with a woman suspected to be of Somali nationality known as Abdi.

It is through a SIM card registered under Abdi’s name that the terrorists received cash facilitation presumably to carry out their assault at the hotel complex.

It is, however, not clear if Abdi is her real name or whether she might have been operating in Kenya under false identity.

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