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Africa Horn |
Uganda warns of Shabaab fuel tanker attacks |
2014-03-20 |
KAMPALA, Mar 18 -- Uganda warned Tuesday that Somalia's Al-Qaeda linked Shabaab insurgents were planning to use fuel tankers as bombs, one day after Kenya thwarted a "massive" car bomb attack. Both Uganda and Kenya are key contributors of troops to the African Union force fighting the Shabaab in Somalia, and the Islamists have carried out major attacks in both countries in retaliation in the past. "We have received credible information to the effect that Al-Shabaab are planning to blow up fuel trucks in Kampala to cause extensive damage to people and property," Ugandan police chief Kale Kayihura said in a statement. "The public is asked to be very vigilant and help the police and report any suspicious movement or activity". Shabaab bombers killed at least 76 people in Uganda's capital Kampala in 2010. On Monday, Kenyan police arrested two men driving a vehicle packed with explosives in the Indian Ocean port city of Mombasa. Top Kenyan coastal government official Nelson Marwa said Tuesday the two men arrested had been preparing a "massive attack". Foreign special forces were part of the operation to stop them, he said. "The two were tracked from Somalia by both Kenyan and foreign forces," top local government official Nelson Marwa said Tuesday. |
Posted by:Steve White |