Riverside suicide bomber Mahir Khalid Riziki's wife Sahaila Mwinyi arrested by Police in Mombasa

Police make major breakthrough with key arrests in Riverside investigations

Charles Ouma

January 20, 2019 8:53 AM

New developments in Riverside terrorist attack investigations

Security agencies responding to the Dusit D2 terrorist attack

Police have made a breakthrough in dismantling Alshabaab terror cell behind this week’s terrorist attack at Riverside, making key arrests.

Friday saw police arrest the wife to Mahir Khalid Riziki who blew himself up during the Riverside attack and who is reported to have been in communication with the terrorist during his stay in Somalia where he received training from the terror group.

The woman identified as Sahaila Mwinyi is believed to have answers to pertinent questions and was well aware of her husband’s activities but chose not to report to the police.

Witnesses divulged that Anti-Terror Police Unit swarmed Bakarini informal settlements in Kisauni and picked her up.

Suhaila Mwalim Bakari, widow of suicide bomber at Dusit terror attack. Pulse Live Kenya

She became a person of interest in the investigations after reports emerged that for three years she knew her husband who was in Somalia, wanted by police over terror related activities at the Coast and with a Sh2 million bounty on his head but still chose to keep quiet.

Also taken in during the raid was Mahir Khalid’d father who police believe could aid with investigations.

A senior police officer was quoted confirming that the two were in police custody but downplayed the arrests stating: “We have not arrested these people. We just want them to tell us what they know about Mahir who left Mombasa five years ago”.

Mahir Khalid Riziki Pulse Live Kenya

Sahaila reportedly ended her relationship with Mahir shortly after he vanished from Mombasa to join Alshabaab in Somalia but still kept in touch with him on phone and was aware of his whereabouts and activities in Somalia.

It is not clear whether her current husband was at home during the arrest.

Mahir Khalid Riziki's ID Pulse Live Kenya

Mahir is suspected to have sneaked back into the country towards the end of 2018 to orchestrate an attack at the Coast, with her wife reportedly keeping mum.

Charles Ouma