Breaking news 3 Held: Somali Leader Home Raid:

[General Duke]

Somali Leader Home Raid: 3 Held

- Friday, November 19, 2004 at 11:50

 

The Nation (Nairobi)

November 19, 2004

 

Stephen Muiruri

Nairobi - Three men have been arrested over the gun battle at the Nairobi home of Somalia's newly elected president. Police said yesterday they were also following the lead that the attack was masterminded by Islamic fundamentalists opposed to President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed and his government.

 

The three were picked up a few hours after two gunmen sneaked into the president's home and engaged GSU officers in a fierce shootout.

 

They are being held at an undisclosed city police station for security reasons.

 

A security source told the Nation: "Intelligence information received by our officers shows that the attack might have been plotted by Islamic fundamentalists opposed to the return of the rule of law in the war-torn Somalia."

 

The police, he added, were convinced that the gunmen who went to Mr Abdullahi's home at Kitisuru, were part of a hit squad hired to eliminate him. "Police are convinced that the gunmen were assassins because if they were ordinary robbers, they would have taken off when they were confronted by the the GSU men. But they bravely engaged the officers in a fierce gun battle and only fled when they were overpowered."

 

Mr Abdullahi, who is putting together a government while preparing to move back to Mogadishu, was unharmed, but badly shaken in the Tuesday night attack. The president was in bed as the gunmen dug a hole through the hedge at the back of the house and raced across the compound towards the mansion. They were intercepted by GSU officers. They exchanged fire with the guards for more than five minutes before fleeing into the nearby Karura forest.

 

Security at the home was tight yesterday as armed GSU personnel stood guard at the gate and patrolled the compound. Only visitors with appointments were allowed in, but after a thorough security check. The Somali president's family moved into the home a week ago and it was his first night in the mansion, having just returned from a foreign trip. He arrived back at 4.30pm on Tuesday accompanied by prime minister Ali Mohammed Ghedi, who left soon afterwards.

 

A police source said: "The two men were brandishing AK-47 rifles. They opened fire when they were ordered to identify themselves. The guards then engaged them in a gun battle for about five minutes.

 

"On Wednesday, Somalia's head of presidential Press service, Mr Yusuf Mohammed Ismail, said President Abdullahi was happy with the security given to him and his family in Nairobi.

 

The president, a former army colonel, has been provided with state security since he was elected.

 

Soure: The Nation

[OG_Girl]

Since when did the Kenyan police became this efficient in catching criminals??!!!!!

 

So sad that we start accusing Islamic fundamentalist groups in to gain little money and join the so-called, "war on terror"!.

 

Many Somalis hate A/Y, of course with different motivations and reasons. Therefore is not surprising that this accident happened couple days ago. But what is surprising is, how fast the Kenyan police caught some fantasy suspects and labelled them, ‘Islamic fundamentalist’.

Why do they want to drag the name of Islam in their dirty politics?

 

This is really a cheap way to beg the West and get their blessing! Is sad to see all of this done for few more dollars... I would say to people keep in your western country you live cause wont be different in Mother Land!!

 

Salam

[QUANTUM LEAP]

Islamic fundamentalists opposed to President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed and his government.

What crap is this. This could easily be kenyan thugs rather than Somalis or thugs used by Somalis who hate the guy. Its frightening how everytime something threatening happens they use Islamic fundamentalists.

[JustCause]

Is amazing how Islam is used and abused in this day and age in order to achieve some political gains. I am sure this attempted assassination had nothing to with Islam or Islamic fundamentalist.

 

I will ask the Nomads here not to turn this post in qabiil or AY bashing and hope we all see we have a common enemy now. This is a dangerous and aggressive enemy, which wants to delete Islamic culture from existence. We shouldn’t let this happen and we should unite together. United we stand…

[AYOUB]

No arrests over attack on Somalia President

 

By Standard Correspondent

 

No arrests have been made in connection with the foiled attack on Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf’s residence in Nairobi on Tuesday night.

 

Police yesterday denied reports in the Daily Nation that three people had been arrested over the attack.

 

Nairobi police boss Kingori Mwangi said they were still investigating the incident.

 

"Those people disappeared into the nearby forest and getting them is difficult. I do not know of any arrest so far made," he said.

 

Mwangi said they were treating the attack as an attempted burglary, dismissing reports of an assassination attempt.

 

The Nation reported that three men had been picked up in connection with the attack that saw General Service Unit men guarding the President engage in a shootout for over ten minutes.

 

It further claimed that the assailants were from an Islamic group opposed to the formation of a government in Somalia.

 

But police yesterday described the reports as misleading.

 

President Yusuf yesterday continued receiving delegations at his residence, after security was beefed up.

 

More officers were also deployed at the home of Somali Prime Minister Mohamed Ghedi, a few metres away from the President’s home.

 

Two gunmen had sneaked into the president’s compound at dawn but were repulsed by the GSU personnel after a fierce shootout.

 

Yusuf was in the house at the time of the incident. No one was injured, police said.

 

Police recovered a cap and a torch believed to have been used by the assailants within the compound as investigations went on.

 

The detectives who toured the compound in the company of the President termed the attack as a normal robbery.

[raula]

The Nation reported that three men had been picked up in connection with the attack that saw General Service Unit men guarding the President engage in a shootout for over ten minutes.

wow the GSU :eek: are guarding him..he sure is safe I suppose

 

PS: Who remembers the GSU in Kenya

[Jumatatu]

^^^ I remember them since Ben Gedi's days...they were vicious and an alternative force to the 'jeshi za mzee'