Tanzanian Association Oslo

Al-Qaeda man feared

hiding in Tanzania

THISDAY REPORTER 

Dar es Salaam 

SECURITY forces in Tanzania are on high alert following reports that fugitive wanted Al Qaeda man Fazul Abdallah Mohamed may be hiding in the country. 

Intelligence reports from well-placed sources say Fazul may have slipped into the country after recently escaping arrest in neighbouring Kenya. 

Fazul, who is believed to have masterminded the 1998 simultaneous bombings of the United States Embassies in Dar es Salaam and Nairobi that killed a total of 224 people, is thought to have entered the country through Tanga after fleeing the Kenyan coastal town of Malindi. 

Last month, the elusive terrorist suspect avoided a security dragnet in Kenya where he had gone to seek medical treatment. 

’’After fleeing Kenya, Fazul is thought to have slipped into Tanga and later Dar es Salaam where he has been hiding,’’ said one of our sources. 

Security forces in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and elsewhere across East Africa have been on high alert since the whereabouts of the terror suspect were reported in Kenya last month. 

Fazul, who hails from the Comoros, is understood to be one of the key operatives of the Al-Qaeda network in East Africa and is described as being fluent in Arabic, Kiswahili, English and French. 

’’His exact whereabouts are currently unknown, but there are reports that he may have slipped into Tanzania on his way to Pakistan,’’ said another source. 

The Director of Criminal Investigation (DCI), Commissioner of Police Robert Manumba, would not rule out the possibility that the top Al Qaeda man could be hiding in the country. 

’’It’s true that we were alerted by our colleagues that the suspect may try to hide in Tanzania after escaping arrest in Kenya. We’re still not certain about his present whereabouts but remain vigilant,’’ said Manumba. 

He added: ’’I can’t rule out the possibility that he has entered into the country. This is a dangerous network ... I might say today he (Fazul) is not in Tanzania, then the next day he suddenly pops up. All I can say for certain is that our security forces are co-operating with our counterparts in the region to ensure this suspect is arrested.’’ 

Manumba urged members of the public to co-operate with the police and volunteer all information they may have on Fazul or any other terrorism suspect. 

Although based in Somalia, Fazul is known to frequent Kenya and other parts of East Africa. 

The suspect has been evasive after police reports indicated he had entered Kenya to seek medical attention for his kidney. 

He first slipped out of a house where he is said to have been on August 2 -- an hour before police arrived and left his two passports and a number of personal effects. 

Police sources say Fazul may have bleached his image to disguise himself. 

Authorities in Tanzania have also been investigating reports that a man from the Comoro Islands masquerading as a foreign investor in the country has possible links to Fazul. 

A special inter-governmental committee has already been formed to tackle terrorism and other economic crimes in the country.