An Australian man of Somali origin suspected of terrorism links has escaped from police custody in Kenya, local media have reported.

Immigration officers reportedly arrested him earlier this month at the Busia border post in western Kenya, suspecting he had a forged passport.

But he managed to escape before the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit arrived from Nairobi to interview him.

One police officer said he had fled while being transferred to the cells.

“The issue is, however, under investigation,” William Okello told The Standard newspaper.

The Daily Nation reports that he is suspected of working with the Somali al-Shabab group, which has links to al-Qaeda.

Last year, a group of ethnic Somalis were arrested in Melbourne amid reports they had links to al-Shabab and were planning attacks in Australia.

Al-Shabab controls much of southern Somalia and is battling the UN-backed government in Mogadishu.

____

BBC

Comments

comments