Police chief issues fresh terror alert
Aug 05, 2011
THE Police chief, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura, has called for extra vigilance, citing fresh threats from groups associated with the al-Qaeda terrorist group.
By Vision Reporter
THE Police chief, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura, has called for extra vigilance, citing fresh threats from groups associated with the al-Qaeda terrorist group.
“Uganda is targeted by al-Qaeda. We’re facing a new terror attack. Al-Shabaab militants in Somalia are in the process of avenging
the death of their commander Fazul Abdullah,†Kayihura said yesterday during a meeting in Kampala with local and international journalists.
The first al-Shabaab attack on Uganda took place on July 11, 2010 when about 80 people were killed in twin attacks in Kampala.
They were watching the World Cup finals between the Netherlands and Spain. Abdullah, the mastermind of last year’s terrorist bombings in Uganda, was killed in a US air strike last month.
He was also behind the bombing of the US embassies in Tanzania and Kenya.
On July 6, the Police said terrorists were planning anniversary bombings in Uganda to coincide with July 11.
On Monday, two Ugandan peacekeepers were killed in an al-Shabaab suicide attack in Mogadishu.
The two suicide bombers who were dressed in Somali Transitional Federal Government uniform, were also killed in the attack as they attempted to infiltrate the African Union Mission base.
Despite the threats, Kayihura said the al-Shaabab had weakened and would soon be pushed out of Mogadishu by Ugandan and Burundian peacekeepers.
He also disclosed that the group that planned the Kampala bombing was busted with the recent extradition of Muhammad Ali Muhammad.
Muhammad is said to have strong links with the Somalia-based al-Shabaab rebels. Before he went into hiding in Tanzania, he resided in Nairobi, Kenya.
Muhammad and 18 other suspects on trial for the 7/11 bombing are held in different prisons in the country.
Kayihura said security checks need to be tightened.
“Apart from metal detectors, we need dogs and thorough body search. There are intelligence reports that al-Qaeda terrorists use in-plants for suicide bombers,†he said.
Kayihura said other forms of vigilance include neighbourhood watch and intensified security checks and patrols.
He said terrorists target populated areas like shopping centres, markets, bus and taxi parks.
Kayihura asked journalists to expose areas with relaxed security to the Police.
THE Police chief, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura, has called for extra vigilance, citing fresh threats from groups associated with the al-Qaeda terrorist group.
“Uganda is targeted by al-Qaeda. We’re facing a new terror attack. Al-Shabaab militants in Somalia are in the process of avenging
the death of their commander Fazul Abdullah,†Kayihura said yesterday during a meeting in Kampala with local and international journalists.
The first al-Shabaab attack on Uganda took place on July 11, 2010 when about 80 people were killed in twin attacks in Kampala.
They were watching the World Cup finals between the Netherlands and Spain. Abdullah, the mastermind of last year’s terrorist bombings in Uganda, was killed in a US air strike last month.
He was also behind the bombing of the US embassies in Tanzania and Kenya.
On July 6, the Police said terrorists were planning anniversary bombings in Uganda to coincide with July 11.
On Monday, two Ugandan peacekeepers were killed in an al-Shabaab suicide attack in Mogadishu.
The two suicide bombers who were dressed in Somali Transitional Federal Government uniform, were also killed in the attack as they attempted to infiltrate the African Union Mission base.
Despite the threats, Kayihura said the al-Shaabab had weakened and would soon be pushed out of Mogadishu by Ugandan and Burundian peacekeepers.
He also disclosed that the group that planned the Kampala bombing was busted with the recent extradition of Muhammad Ali Muhammad.
Muhammad is said to have strong links with the Somalia-based al-Shabaab rebels. Before he went into hiding in Tanzania, he resided in Nairobi, Kenya.
Muhammad and 18 other suspects on trial for the 7/11 bombing are held in different prisons in the country.
Kayihura said security checks need to be tightened.
“Apart from metal detectors, we need dogs and thorough body search. There are intelligence reports that al-Qaeda terrorists use in-plants for suicide bombers,†he said.
Kayihura said other forms of vigilance include neighbourhood watch and intensified security checks and patrols.
He said terrorists target populated areas like shopping centres, markets, bus and taxi parks.
Kayihura asked journalists to expose areas with relaxed security to the Police.