Fazul Abdullah Mohammed

Sun 3 Aug 2008, 13:29 GMT

MOMBASA, Kenya (Reuters) - One of Africa's most wanted al Qaeda operatives, sought for his role in the bombings of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, has narrowly escaped capture in Kenya, police said on Sunday.

Fazul Abdullah Mohammed, high on Washington's list of terrorist suspects, left a home in the Indian Ocean resort of Malindi late on Saturday just minutes before officers crashed through the door, police said.

"We sealed off the whole area and had sea and land patrols but unfortunately, Fazul got leakage of the intended raid and escaped," said one senior detective who asked not to be named.
"We are still looking for him."

The United States has offered a $5 million reward for information leading to the capture of the Comorian, who speaks five languages and is said to be a master of disguise, forgery and bomb making.

He is accused of playing a lead role in the 1998 embassy attacks in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam, which killed 240 people.

Kenyan police said they found two passports believed to belong to Mohammed and arrested two people, including the owner of the home, which is near the Malindi district hospital.

Another police source said more than 50 officers took part in the raid, and that Mohammed appeared to have been staying at the house for several days.

"Our intelligence reports show that he came into the country from Somalia to seek medical attention because of a kidney condition," the source told Reuters.
By Celestine Achieng

The Rest @ Reuters Africa

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