Police in Tiribe, Kwale County on Monday, August 31, killed Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) trained terror suspect Juma Athuman Mwengo.
The notorious suspect was on the police's radar for more than three years. It is alleged that he was a known recruiter for terror-linked groups, and the mastermind behind planned attacks in Kwale and Mombasa.
According to reports Athuman was trained in Syria under the ISIS group before returning to the country where he is believed to have spearheaded a number of attacks.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, Matuga Sub-County Police Commander Francis Nguli detailed how police managed to bring down the terror suspect.
"It was an operation carried out by police following a tip-off from the public. Special Unit officers from Nairobi followed the suspect to his hideout where one of his accomplice managed to escape through the back door. The other suspect tried to confront the officers with a panga but was fatally injured during the melee.
"The police recovered five machetes labelled Kafiri and a black flag with Arabic writings and a spent cartridge," explained Nguli.
Nguli revealed that according to intelligence reports, Athuman was planning to attack areas of Kwale and Mombasa county specifically Mwambweni, Likoni and Kisauni.
Athman was a member of the terrorist movement Harakat Al-Shabaab Mujahideen (HSM) which is a jihadist fundamentalist group based in the Horn of Africa.
The terror suspect was arrested back in April 2017, when he is believed to have been a few hours away from mounting a terror attack in the coastal city of Mombasa.
Reports indicate that Athuman alongside Salim Mohamed Rashid, were charged in terror-related cases in Mombasa but later released on bond.
In 2019, Athuman and Rashid managed to slip through an Anti-terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) trap at their house in Mombasa.
