The International Criminal Police Organisation has arrested 17 Kenyans including two suspected ISIS members, several foreign terrorist fighters and others involved in terrorism financing, radicalisation and propaganda.
The 17 were arrested during an international counter-terrorism operation in East Africa that led to the arrest of 37 suspects and the seizure of both small arms and heavy weapons.
Those arrested include suspected members of ISIS, Al Shabaab and several foreign terrorist fighters.
“Prior to the operation, each participating country prepared an operational plan, gathering intelligence on terror-related targets, including individuals and their known locations,” Interpol stated.
“Interpol and Afripol consolidated and analysed this information and shared it with all participating countries, facilitating a significant exchange of criminal intelligence,” the organization added.
The Kenyans were arrested during a joint Interpol and Afripol operation in November To December 2024 aimed at identifying and arresting suspects with links to terrorism and strengthening key border controls.
Through a statement, Interpol revealed that before the operation, each country had done the required amount of groundwork in regard to intelligence gathering.
The operation comes as Kenya continues to face the lingering threat of terrorism. The country has borne the devastating brunt of terror including the 1998 attack on the US Embassy, the 2013 Westgate Mall attack and the 2015 Garissa University terror attack that claimed 148 lives. Most recently, a terror attack on the Dusit D2 hotel complex in 2019 claimed 21 lives.
The two terror-fighting organisations emphasized the need for greater cooperation and collaboration amongst law enforcement agencies to curb terror in Kenya and by extension the East African region.