by Joy Nabukewa
MOMBASA, Kenya, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The Kenyan government on Thursday warned of possible terror attacks by Al-Shabaab in the coastal city of Mombasa during Ramadhan.
Muslims around the world will be fasting over the weekend to commemorate the first revelation of the Koran to Prophet Mohammed.
Mombasa County Commissioner Evans Achoki said police have been deployed across the county to help thwart terror activities in the tourism resort region.
"We have increased surveillance at key points including airports and shopping malls, at the Likoni channel and hotels during the holy month and political rallies," Achoki said.
He said the security agents have managed to degrade the Al-Shabaab in the city but urged locals to be vigilant and share information with authorities.
Police attributes the drop in terrorist attacks in the coastal region to Operation Linda Boni in Lamu. The operation to flush out the militants from the vast forest targeted the Jeysh Ayman, a 300-member Al-Shabaab cell that operated in the forest.
The vast Boni forest area along the Kenya-Somalia border extends into Somalia to become Lacta Belt that was infiltrated by Al-Shabaab operatives.
At least ten police officers have been killed in less than two days along the Kenya Somalia border town of Mandera and Garrisa after their vehicles ran over an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).
The National Intelligence Service (NIS) has also warned the militants have dispatched fighters in parts of northeast region and Coast regions to carry out sting attacks targeting security agents and civilians.
"We have shared the Intelligence report among security agents with aim of preventing any possible attacks especially during the holy month of Ramadhan," senior NIS officer told Xinhua.
He said the group might use local terror cells to stage attacks in the city and Lamu County situated along Kenya-Somalia border.
