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| Photo: Gideon Maundu/Nation
Muslims in Mombasa say prayers for Eid.
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Nairobi Provincial Police chief Anthony Kibuchi said they had received intelligence reports that the terrorists plan to hit their targets during the Holy Month of Ramadhan.
"Al Shabaab terrorists have issued threats that they will carry out massive destruction during the month of Ramadhan," Kibuchi said and urged the public to remain vigilant.
"Let everybody be extra alert," he added.
A police source told us "security has been intensified mainly in Nairobi, Mombasa and border towns where the terrorists are targeting."
Security has been intensified in government installations and public places, including hotels, the source added.
The group has in the past months threatened to bring down Kenya's "tall glass buildings" after Kenyan troops crossed into Somalia last October following a spate of attacks and abductions in its territory that it blamed on the militants.
The threats were first issued in May by a US-based private intelligence firm IntelCenter, which reported that the militant group had warned Kenyans that the country "will weep two weeks from now."
The warning came two weeks after the May 28 attack on a Nairobi building housing clothing retail stores that killed one person and injured more than 30 others.
Al-Shabaab insurgents have launched a spate of attacks in Kenya, mainly using grenades and it is believed that these are building up to a larger attack.
On Wednesday, at least four people were wounded in twin grenade attacks in Wajir.
The latest attack by the Al Qaeda linked Al Shabaab occurred at a restaurant and a shop in the town. North Eastern Provincial police Chief Philip Tuimur said no suspect has been arrested.
Tuimur said more officers had been deployed to patrol the region to keep the attackers away.
Security forces have become increasingly targeted by the terrorists, mainly at the border towns. Some of the attacks have also occurred in Nairobi.
Nairobi, Mombasa and towns in North Eastern Province have suffered deadly attacks since late last year, resulting in dozens of deaths and injuries.
The latest deadly attack occurred in Garissa three weeks ago when suspected militants opened fire and hurled grenades inside two churches, killing 18 people.
More than 60 others were wounded in the attacks.
On Monday, a police officer was killed and his colleague wounded when they were ambushed by people believed to be Al Shabaab militants in Lagdera.
The attack occurred when their vehicle was sprayed with bullets.
Just last week, two police officers were shot and seriously wounded in Mandera in another attack blamed on Al Shabaab militiamen.
The officers who were in a group of three were heading back to Garissa when the militants attacked them in Arabia area, a few kilometers from the border with Somalia.
from allAfrica - CapitalFM
By Bernard Momanyi, 20 July 2012
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