Mystery as detectives recover arms cache at city family residence
Mystery still surrounds the arrest of a mother and her daughter and the recovery of an M4 sniper rifle, submachine gun, four pistols and over 3,700 rounds of ammunition in Racecourse, Nairobi.
The mother and daughter were arrested on Wednesday night by detectives from the Anti-Terror Police Unit (ATPU) in a covert operation with foreign agencies.
The two are said to hold dual US citizenship, according to the detectives. The Head of the ATPU John Gachomo had earlier said they suspected the cache was sneaked into the country for terror activities.
However, last evening unconfirmed reports indicated that the woman was married to a foreigner who worked with one of the major security organisations.
Recovered arms
Police gave the details of the recovered arms and ammunition as an M4 sniper rifle with an effective range of 500m, four pistols, close quarter Uzi automatic submachine gun capable of firing 600 rounds per a minute and 3,700 rounds of ammunition.
Yesterday, the two were grilled for the second day before they were taken to court to request for more days as police seek more days to investigate their possible links to terrorism.
Detectives said they were yet to establish the motive of possession of such deadly weapons. Preliminary investigations showed that they had been illegally imported.
Ballistic examinations
The ATPU said the weapons will be taken for ballistic examination. “We are still yet to know the motive of the two to have them but we are investigating the issue,” Gachomo said.
The two were expected in court Thursday as police investigate their motive and possible links to terrorism.
Security agencies have enhanced operations across the country with reports that some planned attacks, especially those targeting learning institutions and critical installations, have been thwarted.
Just last month, police arrested three men and recovered a cache of weapons including 8 AK 47 rifles, 2,104 rounds of ammunition, and 20 litres of petrol along Baraki-Maalmin road in Lagdera, Garissa County.
They also recovered eight rifle magazines. In February, detectives also arrested two people and recovered an AK47 rifle, 128 rounds of ammunition and two hand grenades in Isiolo.
