A foiled terror attack last month by police in Merti, Isiolo County had targeted a Nairobi Court and a government building, Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet revealed on Wednesday.
The motive according to the IG was to rescue a terror suspect, Sheikh Guyo Gorsa who has been in police custody facing several terror related charges.
“The terrorists targeted a government building and a judicial building when proceeding against a terror suspect to rescue him,” said Boinett according to the Standard.
He did not however, specify which court in particular and government building had been targeted.
The IG spoke of the foiled terror attack for the first time where he reiterated that the force has so far dismantled several terror cells in the country.
He was at the DCI headquarters where the deadly arsenal recovered from the terrorists was displayed.
Among the weapons recovered were 36 unprimed hand grenades, 18 Improvised Explosive Devices five A-k 47 assault rifles and more than one thousand rounds of ammunition, and three military knives.
Police also recovered several SIM cards and mobile phones, a black flag.
Five people were planning the cross-border attack led by 27-year old Mbarak Abdi Huka who was identified as the leader of the terrorist cell organizing the foiled city bombing.
Two of the suspects were arrested at the time but several other arrests have been made since then.
Abdimajit Adan, 24 and Mohammed Nane, 28 were arrested and a Mitsubishi-make vehicle laden with explosives impounded by the authorities.
Their accomplices, including a man and a woman operating a cyber café in River Road, Nairobi have been arrested and charged for preparing fake Identity cards for three male suicide bombers from Somali.
Adan, one of the suspects under police custody had been staying at Delta Hotel-adjacent to Central Police Station since February 9 according to the manager.
He is alleged to have left his room on Thursday, February 15. Hours later, he was caught up in the fierce gun battle with police in Merti.