UK Issues Terror Alert To Citizens In Kenya, Hours After US
UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) highlighted various places in the country that...
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The United Kingdom (UK) has become the second superpower country in a matter of hours to issue terror alerts to its citizens and foreigners living in Kenya.
In a notice on Thursday, February 9, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) highlighted various places in the country that are considered high terror risk.
As a result, FCDO advised Britons against all but essential travel to said places, including some affected counties in the North Eastern.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak meets President William Ruto at COP 27. /GOV.UK
“The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises against all but essential travel to areas within 60km of the Kenya-Somali border, Eastern Garissa County (up to 20km north-west of the A3), Mandera County (excluding Mandera West sub-county), Lamu County (excluding Lamu Island and Manda Island), areas of Tana River County north of the Tana river itself (up to 20km north-west of the A3), within 15km of the coast from the Tana river down to the Galana (Athi-Galana-Sabaki) river,” the statement read in part.
FCDO further highlighted high-traffic areas frequented by foreigners in parts of the country that continue to be attractive targets to terrorists planning to conduct potentially imminent attacks.
“There is a heightened threat of terrorism, including terrorist kidnappings, across Kenya. Attacks, including terrorist kidnappings, could target Westerners, including British nationals. Attacks could occur at any time, including around religious or other public holidays or celebrations.
“Attacks could be indiscriminate in places frequented by foreigners including hotels, bars, restaurants, sports bars and nightclubs, sporting events, supermarkets, shopping centres, commercial buildings, coastal areas including beaches, government buildings including Embassies, airports, buses, trains and other transport hubs. Places of worship including churches and mosques have also been targeted,” added FCDO.
The alert by the UK embassy came hours after the United States (US) embassy issued a near-similar terror alert to citizens living in Nairobi, advising its citizens to be on high alert as terrorist groups could stage an attack with little or no warning, targeting areas with many people.
"Terrorist groups could attack with little or no warning, targeting hotels, embassies, restaurants, malls and markets, schools, police stations, places of worship, and other places frequented by foreigners and tourists," read the notice in part.
However, the embassy acknowledged security measures that the Kenyan government has put in place, including counterterrorism patrols.
The embassy also gave the following steps for its citizens to follow to keep themselves safe while in the capital city and in the country:
- Exercise vigilance at locations frequented by tourists/foreigners.
- Review your personal security plans.
- Be aware of your surroundings.
- Monitor local media for updates.
At the moment, the government of Kenya has remained on high alert with multi-agent security teams in Nairobi county following recent cases of muggings to the residents.
Hours later, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) appealed to Kenyans to volunteer information that may lead to the arrest of five dangerous terror suspects, linked to the Al-Shabaab terror network.
Suspects linked by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to the Lamu and Garissa University attacks on Thursday, February 9, 2023. /DCI
