Kenya terror suspects go free
Judges acquit six men accused of involvement in attack on Israeli-owned hotel in Mombassa
A Kenyan court decided on Thursday to release six suspects charged with involvement in an attack on an Israeli-owned hotel in Mombassa in 2002 that killed 15 people, including three Israelis.
The verdict followed the prosecution’s failure to provide the necessary evidence.
Foreign Ministry Deputy Director for Africa Affairs, Miriam Ziv, said she plan to summon the Kenyan ambassador to a meeting and demand that Kenya continue to act to bring those behind the terror attack to justice. The Israeli envoy in Nairobi was also asked to relay a similar message.
The ambassador in Kenya, Gilad Milo, said the disappointment stems from the fact not even one of those involved in the attack was found guilty and noted there information showing one of the accused assisted the perpetrators of the attack in renting an apartment.
“We, as Israelis with bitter experience, define anyone who drove a terrorist as aiding and abetting murder,” he said. “Regarding that person, we are talking about someone who knew what he was giving a hand to.”
Milo also stressed that the Kenyans must continue in their efforts to bring the terrorists to justice.
“They must continue pursuing them until they get caught,” he said.
2 Israeli children killed in attack
The terror trial opened about two years ago, but according to documents handed over to Kenyan news agency, prosecutors had no significant evidence to tie the six accused to al-Qaida.
At one point, an attorney for three of the accused charged the matter was a political case, and said the United States is looking for someone to lay the blame on.
The car bombing at the Paradise hotel in Mombassa killed two Israeli children and a tour guide, as well as 12 Kenyan dancers who welcomed the guests. Another 80 people sustained wounds in the attack.
Several minutes before the attack, a terror cell fired two missiles at an Israeli airplane leaving Kenya, but missed the target.
מומלצים
