Interpol to coordinate international response to Kenya terror attack
September 26, 2013 (NAIROBI) – The international police, Interpol, has announced it will coordinate international response to the Westgate terror attack in Kenya which left 75 people dead and 175 injured.
Kenya is already being assisted in investigations by specialists from the United States, Israel and the United Kingdom.
Interpol’s Executive Director of police services Jean-Michel Louboutin said in a statement on Thursday that he will head the team comprising of data specialists on DNA and finger prints. The team arrived in Kenya on Wednesday.
“INTERPOL’s role is to help coordinate the international response in support of the Kenyan authorities as they investigate this horrific incident, and to assist their actions at the regional and international levels,” said Louboutin.
“Whether it be through comparison of information against INTERPOL’s global databases, or the issuance of a notice to identify a victim, locate a wanted person, or seek additional information about suspects, we will offer all necessary assistance to help bring those responsible to justice,” added Louboutin.
The Kenyan government said five of the terror suspects were killed while 11 suspected accomplishes have been arrested. The British Foreign office announced that a Briton is among those arrested.
An international arrest warrant has already been issued for Samantha Lewthwaite, a 29 year old British national on charges of being in possession of ‘‘ explosives and conspiracy to commit a felony dating back to December 2011’’.
Samantha Lewthwaite dubbed in both local and the international media as the ‘‘ White Widow’’ is a wife to one of the four bombers in the July 2005 terror attack in London that left 52 people dead.
Meanwhile Gidion Mbuvi Sonko, the Senator for Nairobi told the national assembly on Wednesday that he had tipped off Kenyan intelligence services of a planned attack on the Westgate mall two months ago, but said no action had been taken in response to the information he provided.
(ST)