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A British citizen was among 11 al Shabaab militants killed by Kenya Defence Forces in Lamu county on Sunday.
The man identified as Thomas Evans (pictured above), who was in his mid 20s, is believed to have converted to Islam when he was 19 years old.
British newspapers say Evans, aka Abdul Hakim, joined al Shabaab in 2012 and hails from High Wycombe in the United Kingdom.
Two KDF soldiers were killed when the al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab fighters attacked a military base in Baure area in Baragoni.
Data about Evans and pictures publicly available “point at him”, KDF spokesman Colonel David Obonyo said on Sunday.
“But we cannot be certain because sometimes looks can be deceiving. The necessary forensic investigations are being done including a DNA test I understand,” he said, adding police were carrying out the tests.
Among those killed was al Shabaab’s commander Luqman Osman Issa, also known as Shirwa, blamed for leading the Mpeketoni attacks, Obonyo said.
“This is a big victory for us and also a major setback for al Shabaab because now there is no mainstream commander in the Lamu area,” he told Reuters.
He said Shirwa’s body was in a morgue in Mpeketoni.
Obonyo said another man apparently of Caucasian or Arab origin was among the dead, while the others killed appeared to be from the region.
On Sunday, Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinett said two white terrorists were among the 11 militants.
Boinett said a cache of weapons was recovered following the incident at a militant camp
The weapons include 12 AK 47 rifles, 49 AK 47 magazines, one PMK assault rifle, a rocket-propelled grenade and three hand grenades.
A video camera and two motorola radios were also recovered in the attack in which two KDF soldiers were killed.
Boinett said some of the militants went to Bulla Gollol near Hulugho and harassed locals but fled as security officers closed in on them.
He said ten non-local residents, suspected to have been the militants’ targets, have been accounted for.
The police are expected to release an official statement on the incident.
Al Shabaab confirmed the weekend attack, telling Reuters “many Kenyan soldiers were killed”, without giving precise figures.
The group, which often cites a higher death toll than officials, gave no details about any al Shabaab members killed.
– See more at: The Star
