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Nairobi Latema Road blast

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2019 Nairobi Latema road blast Wambui Anastacia
LocationLatema road, Nairobi, Kenya
Coordinates-1.283255, 36.824728
Date26 January 2019
WeaponImprovised explosive device
Injured2
PerpetratorsAl-Shabaab (suspected)

The Latema road blast was a minor terror incident that occurred on 26 January 2019 on Latema road in Nairobi's Central Business District.[1] The attack occurred after luggage containing an improvised explosive device detonated while it was being carried on a mkokoteni cart, injuring two people.[2]

Background

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Kenya has suffered several terrorist attacks, the most recent being the Nairobi Dusitd2 complex attack. The main perpetrators behind the attacks have been Al-Shabaab militants who have been trying to overthrow the Kenyan backed Somali government.

Incident

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On the evening of 26 January 2019, at around 7 p.m., a middle aged cart pusher was approached by a man of Somali descent to ferry goods, including a box, from the Baba Dogo bus stop to the Kenya Cinema bus stop.[2] As they were nearing the junction of Latema road and Tom Mboya road, the client pretended to have forgotten his ID in a nearby MPESA agent and rushed off, leaving the cart puller waiting.[1] Shortly after he left, the goods being ferried exploded, injuring the cart pusher and a vendor.[1]

Aftermath

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After the incident, anti-bomb squad and anti terror police units sealed off the area after evacuating the injured and searched for the owner of the goods.[3][4] On the morning of 27 January 2019, the National police service advised members of the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious cases to the police.[5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Reporter, Standard. "Latema explosion victim recounts what happened". The Standard. Retrieved 2019-01-27.
  2. ^ a b "Two injured as suspected IED explodes in Nairobi's CBD". The Star, Kenya. Retrieved 2019-01-27.
  3. ^ "Two injured in Nairobi IED explosion". Citizentv.co.ke. Retrieved 2019-01-27.
  4. ^ "CCTV analysis on after city explosion". Daily Nation. Retrieved 2019-01-27.
  5. ^ Onyango, Jacob (2019-01-27). "Hotel operators advised to stay extra alert following explosion at Odeon Cinema". Tuko.co.ke - Kenya news. Retrieved 2019-01-27.