Seven years after the attack on the Westgate shopping center in Nairobi, the verdict in the only trial since the attack on Tuesday is due. The three defendants are accused of helping the terrorists prepare for this attack, in which 68 people died and more than 200 others were injured.
as reported from Nairobi,
The three suspects during the trial are charged with complicity in the terrorists who died during the attack. This Tuesday, it should normally be the epilogue to the only trial linked to the Westgate bombing. After five years of teaching, almost 150 witnesses heard by the police, we will finally know the verdict regarding these three men.
Twelve charges are being brought against these Somali nationals, including charges of “committing an act of terrorism”. Specifically, they are suspected of having supported logistics in particular terrorists who carried out this marathon attack which had lasted four days. An attack that shocked the country with attackers firing automatic weapons and throwing grenades at the crowd of this modern mall.
None of the defendants were present during the operation. However, by examining SIM cards, telephones, communication records, bank records and even pictures of surveillance cameras, the investigation showed that they had been in very regular contact with the Islamists during the preparation of the attacks.
Some have reportedly surrendered the terrorists, helped them find housing in the Eastleigh district of Nairobi, where there is a strong Somali community. One of them allegedly also helped the attackers buy the vehicle used in the attack.
A fourth suspect is no longer there. Adan Mohamed Dheq Ibrahim was acquitted in January 2019 due to lack of evidence. The other three have not stopped declaring their innocence since their first appearance before the judges in November 2013.
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