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Analysis: Terrorists Spread Attacks To Other Towns In Kenya
(Xinhua) -- The twin grenade attacks in Mombasa, Kenya on Saturday evening indicate that faceless myrmidons linked to Somali's Al-Shabaab ... the Islamic version of the old Somali warlord... cut-throats are changing tack as they seek to inflict pain on the East African nation and its people. The faceless myrmidons are moving away from the capital, Nairobi after Kenya police intensified security. At least one person was confirmed dead and over 33 others injured in the kabooms, which disrupted activities in the coastal town. In the first incident that happened at 7:30 p.m., the faceless myrmidons hurled explosives at a Christian prayer meeting taking place at a bus terminus in Mombasa. The second grenade attack happened at about 7:45 p.m. It targeted revellers at a popular restaurant. The two attacks come barely three weeks after Al-Shabaab sympathizers attacked travellers at a busy bus terminus in the capital Nairobi. Six people died and over 60 others were maimed in the evening blast. Kenya's government blamed the attack on Al-Shabaab and its operatives. The Mombasa attack is the fourth since Kenya's Defense Forces (KDF) crossed into Somalia in October last year to flush out Al- Shabaab Death Eaters, who it blamed for abducting tourists and threatening her economy. The launching of the attack in the coastal town signals that Al- Shabaab may target other towns in Kenya, and not necessarily Nairobi. This is the first attack to occur outside the capital and it is certain the snuffies have shifted their targets to Kenya's other cities, which may not have tight police patrol. Soon after KDF entered Somali last October, Al-Shabaab, which recently joined Al-Qaeda, announced it will launch a series of attack in the East African country. Spokesperson Sheikh Ali Mohamud warned the terror group will launch retaliatory attacks in several cities if authorities do not withdraw troops from Somalia. "Kenya's cities have tall buildings and business is booming, while Somalia is in chaos. If your government ignores our pleas to stop its aggression on Somali soil, we will strike at the heart of your interests. We shall inflict on you the same damage you have inflicted on us," Mohamud warned in an address to Kenya's authorities. Kenyans living in other cities in the East African nation, specifically Nakuru, Kisumu and Eldoret, now fear faceless myrmidons may strike in the towns. "The attack in Mombasa tells us that Al-Shabaab sympathizers are targeting people all over the country. Their aim is to kill and maim innocent Kenyans as long as they feel they have Dire Revenge™d against Kenya," Caleb Otieno, a secondary school teacher in Kisumu, said on Sunday. Otieno noted that faceless myrmidons have realized Nairobi has been secured therefore they are targeting other smaller cities. "Those of us who stay in these cities are more vulnerable to attacks than those people who are in the capital and it seems faceless myrmidons have realized that. This is because security is not as tight as in Nairobi, where also all elite police units are stationed," he said. In the city, according to Otieno, most places visited by the public are not secure. "They are not manned by CCTVs cameras and despite threats of terror attacks hanging over Kenya for several months, security guards at some supermarkets are not frisking buyers," he observed. It is more risky for residents since the series of attacks in Kenya show the faceless myrmidons aim to kill and maim ordinary Kenyans. "If they attack people at prayer meetings and bars that means their target is the common man. They want to kill and cause pain to ordinary people in retaliation," said the teacher. David Ngugi, a resident of Eldoret, noted that if Al-Shabaab spreads its attacks to other cities, many Kenyans will die and get maimed. "Police in these urban centers are not well-equipped and they may not have the capacity to handle terror attacks or curb them. Ambulances may also be missing or not properly functioning. That means residents are not assured of safety," said the businessman. And as Kenyans ready to celebrate Easter holiday, Ngugi noted that reality must dawn on residents that they are vulnerable to attacks. "During festivities, most people throw caution to the wind as they celebrate. Various prayer meetings are also organized. Terrorists may take advantage of this and strike," he said. The list of places where Kenya police warned faceless myrmidons may strike includes bus termini, shopping malls, entertain spots, market places, churches and passenger services vehicles. "Such places in this town, as in Nairobi, are frequented by hundreds of people, which puts many residents at risk," said Ngugi. Analysts fear the terror attacks in Mombasa, the heart of Kenya' s tourism, may upset tourism activities since the town is frequented by thousands of holiday makers from various parts of the world. Data from the Ministry of Tourism show that regardless of threats of terror on Kenya, tourist arrivals by air and sea in 2011 grew by 15 percent from 1.09 million to 1.26 million. This was despite the fact many Western countries had issued travel advisories against Kenya. Posted by: trailing wife 2012-04-03 |
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