UK government warns of 'imminent' terrorist attacks in Nairobi

UK government warns of 'imminent' terrorist attacks in Nairobi

2012-01-08 04:42:26 GMT+7 (ICT)

LONDON (BNO NEWS) -- The British government on Saturday warned that terrorists are believed to be planning imminent terrorist attacks in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi and warned its citizens to exercise caution.

Nairobi police chief Anthony Kibuchi on Friday told a local newspaper that there have been new threats of an attack in the capital by al-Qaeda, which is affiliated with Somalia's al-Shabaab militant group. Kenya raised security in October when it sent troops into neighboring Somalia to fight al-Shabaab rebels.

"The Kenyan authorities have alerted the public to a heightened threat from terrorist attacks in Nairobi," a spokesperson for Britain's Foreign Office said on Saturday. "We believe that terrorists may be in the final stages of planning attacks. Attacks could be indiscriminate and target Kenyan institutions as well as places where expatriates and foreign travelers gather, such as hotels, shopping centers and beaches."

As a result of the warning, the UK Foreign Office updated its travel advice for Kenya and 'strongly' advised British nationals in the African country to exercise extra vigilance and caution in public places and at public events. "We will continue to monitor the situation closely and make further updates as necessary," the spokesperson said.

The militant group al-Shabaab regularly carries out attacks and previously declared jihad on Kenya over allegations that it is training Somali troops. The al-Qaeda-inspired militant wing of the Somali Council of Islamic Courts took over most of southern Somalia in the second half of 2006.

Somalia has been without an effective government since Mohamed Siad Barre was overthrown two decades ago.

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