US embassy attacker did not have a visa appointment – Ambassador
The man who was shot dead in front of the United States Embassy after he stabbed a police officer did not have a visa appointment with the embassy as claimed by his kin.
US Ambassador to Kenya Robert Godec on Tuesday also said the General Service Unit (GSU) officer only reacted after being stabbed and could have been justified in shooting the attacker.
The investigative authorities, he said, had however not established the motive of the attack.
Mr Godec said that the attacker, Mr Abdimahat Ibrahim Hassan from Wajir County, had attacked the officer from behind, stabbing him several times with a knife.
UNDER INVESTIGATION
“The officer reacted, shooting and killing the attacker. This attack and its motivations remain under investigation,” Mr Godec said.
Hec also said that the US government is cooperating with the Kenyan authorities on the investigation.
“We confirm that the attacker did not have a visa appointment with the Embassy. The individual attacked the officer from behind, stabbing him several times with a knife,” the Ambassador said.
Five detectives from the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) are working closely with the Kenya detectives on the case.
The deceased had no mobile phone but had a Safaricom SIM card in his pocket.
After the shooting, the Kenya Muslim Caucus said the deceased was shot by a trigger-happy officer and that there was more than what met the eye.
QUESTIONED SHOOTING
Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi was among people who questioned the shooting and urged police and other agencies to speed up investigations into the killing.
“We condemn all acts of terrorism in the country carried out by terrorist groups. But we also call on the government to avoid extrajudicial measures in responding to terrorism as that undermines efforts to combat the menace,” he said.
Security has been beefed up within Gigiri in the last one year following terror threats.
Last month, Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i directed the Kenya Technical Trainers College to be relocated to the former Kenya Science College along Ngong Road in a move seen as having been prompted by the security concerns.
