KENYA: Children detained in madrassa raid

A number of preachers and almost 100 children have been held after a raid on an Islamic school in Kenya, local media reports. It is not known exactly why the raid in Likoni town, on the coast, was carried out. However, several reports suggest international forces were involved – with both the UK and US […]

A number of preachers and almost 100 children have been held after a raid on an Islamic school in Kenya, local media reports.

It is not known exactly why the raid in Likoni town, on the coast, was carried out. However, several reports suggest international forces were involved – with both the UK and US being mentioned.

Media outlets link it to different things – including a “terror cell” and “a child-trafficking syndicate spanning several nations and continents”.

The Star newspaper reported the children, as young as five, came from places as far afield as the US, UK, and Canada, as well as countries across Africa.

A police source, who did not want to be named, told news agency Reuters the school was a “centre for indoctrinating young men and children with militant ideology” which had been under surveillance for some time.