Kenyan spies for Iranian terror group arrested in Nairobi

Politics and policy

Abubakar Sadiq louw, 69, (left) and Yassin Sambai Juma, 25. The two have been arrested on suspicion of spying for and recruiting on behalf of an Iranian terror group. PHOTO | COURTESY 

By NATION REPORTER

In Summary

• Inspector General of Police says duo admitted to planning attacks on hotels in Nairobi frequented by tourists, businessmen and diplomats.

Police have arrested two Kenyans believed to have been spying for and recruiting on behalf of an Iranian terror group.0

Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet said the two, Abubakar Sadiq Louw, 69, and Yassin Sambai Juma, 25, were conspiring to mount terror attacks against western targets in Kenya.

He said the two have admitted to have been planning to stage attacks on hotels in Nairobi, frequently used by tourists, businessmen and diplomats.

“Upon interrogation, Abubakar Sadiq Louw admitted recruiting young Kenyans to spy and mount terror attacks in Nairobi,” Mr Boinnet said.

Sources indicate that Abubakar was arrested on Thursday October 29, after a long intensive police investigation.

Yassin Sambai, according to Mr Boinnet, was recruited by Abubakar who divulged to the investigators that he arranged for Juma to travel to Iran and introduced him to the Qods Force contact, Mojtaba Ghanbarian famously known as "Parsa" who gave him a set of tasks and Western targets for future terror attacks in Nairobi. Juma who police say has undergone military training in Iran, was arrested by police on November 19.

Abubakar, Mr Boinnet said, has also recruited several other youth, with false promises that they would be awarded scholarships.

The revelation by Mr Boinett comes just a day after he sounded an alarm over the theft of two diplomatic number plates from vehicles at the coast.

The number plates, 45 UN177 K and 45 UN130 K, were stolen from United Nations’ vehicles while they were parked in Kilifi and Mombasa respectively.

“Only the front number plates were stolen leaving the rear plates which were much difficult to remove,” Mr Boinnet said in a speech read on his behalf by Kenya Police Spokesperson, Charles Owino.

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