Kenya - RPS warns travellers to Mombassa to be cautious after failed grenade attack

RPS has learned this morning that two British tourists escaped unhurt in Mombasa after a hand grenade hurled at their tour van within the Likoni area failed to explode.

Police have said that the F1 Russian made grenade hit the tourists’ vehicle and landed on the roadside. Fortuntately no one outside the vehicle was hurt.

The two British tourists were heading to the Maasai Mara from Diani for a game drive; they were travelling in a at JT Tours vehicle.  

“Bomb experts have detonated the hand grenade that was hurled at the tourist van. The grenade was thrown at the vehicle but failed to explode,” he said.  The local Chief of Police, Kitur, said security has been heightened in Mombasa in efforts to avert any possible terror attack. 

Mombasa is a centre for Swahili culture and has a long history as a multicultural Indian Ocean trading port. The port is key for the wider region as a large proportion of trade is trucked from Mombasa into landlocked Uganda and the Great Lakes countries.

Security in Mombasa 

Mombasa has been affected by sporadic unrest and violence carried out by separatist groups including the MRC.

Nairobi and Mombasa have both experienced a number of grenade and IED attacks against public transport stops, churches and public areas. In Mombasa such attacks have usually occurred alongside outbreaks of sectarian rioting and local social unrest and have tended to target churches and security forces.  This shows maybe a new trend to start targetting Westerners in the area.

Travellers to Mombasa should be aware of the high crime rates and particuarly in urban areas such as Mombasa, Kisumu and tourist beach resorts such as Diani it can be particuarly high.

RPS advice

RPS advises travellers going to Mombasa for Christmas to stay in hotels with good security and to be observant when travelling. Preparation is key to travel in Kenya and you should be prepared for any eventuality.  Get a map out and look where you are going; don't rely on electronic devices. Bear in mind the advice below and consider changing your route or travelling during the day leaving yourself plenty of time for travel. Ensure you have a first aid pack in the vehicle.

Banditry is still a major risk along the A3 Garissa road (to the north of Malindi beach), the B9 road going north-east from Isiolo, the Malindi-Lamu road and to a lesser extent, the A2 towards Moyale. Armed groups have also attacked tourists in the country’s game reserves, with reports of incidents in Shaba, Lewa and the Maasai Mara in 2011 and 2012.  There have, however, been no reports in 2013.

Police security in Mombasa is being increased

The Police Chief has said that more police officers have been deployed to key installations to "avert any terrorism plot during the festive season."  He also said police have also intensified patrols at tourist hotels and government installations that might be targeted by militants.

Everyone is now being urged to be more vigilant and to report anything suspcious to the police; including hotel owners and tourists. 

RPS can be contacted on [email protected] for more advice on travel to Kenya.

 

Source: Local information, Capitalfm.co.ke, Shanghai Daily

Photo: Tripadvisor