Subscribe free to our newsletters via your
. Space Travel News .




AFRICA NEWS
Kenya boosts airport defence, warning of Islamist threat
by Staff Writers
Nairobi (AFP) Feb 25, 2014


Kenya's security chiefs on Tuesday ordered that defences be boosted around the capital's airport, including against possible missile attack amid "increased threats of radicalisation" from homegrown Islamist extremists.

The country's top defence body, the National Security Council (NSC), demanded extra protection around Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

Kenya has suffered a string of attacks blamed on Islamist insurgents, including the September massacre in Nairobi's Westgate mall in which at least 67 people were killed

Somalia's Al-Qaeda-linked Shebab said the Westgate attack was a warning to Kenya to pull its troops out of southern Somalia, where they are fighting the Shebab as part of an African Union force.

The NSC "approved the construction of an integrated security screening facility" on the approach to the JKIA terminals, east Africa's largest international flight hub, presidential spokesman Manoah Esipisu said in a statement.

The defence boost will also bring together security forces protecting the jet fuel depot and the "operations base camp for protection against the threat of Man operated Anti-Aircraft Devices (MANPADS) on low flying aircraft," Esipisu added.

Four Somali men are awaiting trial for a failed attack in January at a cafe at the airport, which police had initially dismissed as an exploding light bulb.

Security checks at the entrance of the airport have been significantly beefed up since the blast, which injured no one.

The NSC, which met Tuesday, is headed by the president and includes the chiefs of the armed forces, intelligence and police among others.

It also warned of an "increased prevalence of radicalisation centres", including a mosque in Nairobi and two in the main port city of Mombasa, where supporters have clashed several times with security forces in recent years.

The "NSC further noted with concern the impact of radicalisation on the political economic, social and security well-being of Kenya."

Homegrown groups including the Islamist Al-Hijra group, a radical organisation formerly known as the Muslim Youth Center, operate on Kenya's coast and have been linked to the Shebab.

.


Related Links
Africa News - Resources, Health, Food






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle








AFRICA NEWS
Five bodies exhumed in Mali thought to be murdered soldiers
Bamako (AFP) Feb 24, 2014
Five bodies thought be the remains of soldiers murdered over their allegiance to overthrown Malian president Amadou Toumani Toure were exhumed near the capital Bamako on Sunday, a judicial source told AFP. Yaya Karembe, the judge investigating war crimes committed during a coup in 2012 which plunged Mali into chaos, had the bodies dug up from two communal graves, the source said. "We ar ... read more


AFRICA NEWS
Arianespace to launch OPTSAT 3000 and VENuS satellites

Lighter engines a headache for satellite launcher Ariane

New Russian Rocket Mock-Up Rolls Out to Launch Pad

ILS Proton Successfully Launches TURKSAT-4A for Turksat

AFRICA NEWS
NASA Mars Orbiter Views Opportunity Rover on Ridge

Curiosity Adds Reverse Driving for Wheel Protection

Curiosity Drives On After Crossing Martian Dune

The World Above and Beyond

AFRICA NEWS
Is Yutu Stuck?

Japan's Pocari Sweat bound for the moon: maker

Lunar ownership laws: a future necessity?

Chang'e-2 lunar probe travels 70 mln km

AFRICA NEWS
Thanks America, New Horizons Ahead

Countdown to Pluto

A Busy Year Begins for New Horizons

AFRICA NEWS
ESA selects planet-hunting PLATO mission

Rife with hype, exoplanet study needs patience and refinement

Scientist: Exoplanet research needs less hype, more patience

Europe sets plans for 2024 planet-hunting mission

AFRICA NEWS
US considers launching production of Russian rocket engines

Orion Stage Adapter Aces Structural Loads Testing

Teledyne unit wins $60 million contract to build NASA launch adapter

NASA Selects Space Launch System Adapter Hardware Manufacturer

AFRICA NEWS
No Call for Yutu

What's up, Yutu

China's Jade Rabbit rover comes 'back to life'

Yutu Awakes

AFRICA NEWS
NASA takes major step in hunt for asteroids

Huge asteroid passes Earth nearly one year after Chelyabinsk meteorite

Responding to Potential Asteroid Redirect Mission Targets

A good year to find a comet




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.