"Mystery of blast at busy African airport"

Monday, October 18, 2004

Mystery of blast at busy airport 
By Evelyn Kwamboka and Cyrus Ombati 
Kenya - The East African Standard

 
An explosion rocked Nairobi's busy Wilson Airport yesterday evening,
injuring two people and ripping large sections of the arrival and departure
terminal.

The Government said "an inflammable material" exploded inside the customs
warehouse, but security sources said they were investigating a Somali-link
to the blast, which they said happened moments before the country's new
president Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed was set to land at the airport.

Cabinet minister Raphael Tuju, who gave the Government position on the
matter, was categorical that "it was not a bomb."

"It was not a bomb because the explosion was inside the customs warehouse,"
the Information minister told journalists.

He said detectives were yet to establish the type of inflammable material
that could have caused the damage at the airport.

Tuju and Transport minister John Michuki were among high-ranking government
officials who arrived at the airport as news of the blast spread in the
city.

Also at the airport was the managing director of Kenya Airports Authority,
Mr George Muhoho, and the Government spokesman, Dr Alfred Mutua.

Security officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said President
Ahmed and his entourage had been on a day-long excursion in the Maasai Mara
National Park.

They were flying back to the city when their flight was suddenly re-routed
to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

Ahmed had earlier left Nairobi for the Maasai Mara in the morning and was
due back before the Islamic asr (evening) prayers at 6.30pm before breaking
the fast with his family.

At the JKIA, he was whisked away under tight security to unknown place and
police said last night security around the president had been increased.

The sources also revealed that a suspect was in police custody helping with
investigations and his two, who escaped when the blast went off, were being
sought.

Initial reports said the three people had arrived at the airport to collect
an unaccompanied baggage which had come in from Somalia.

The explosion was said to have originated from a small room next to the
arrivals and departure lounge, used for holding baggage, the sources said.

The airport remained a no-go area for most of the evening as police officers
gathered clues.

Detectives, who included anti-bomb experts, were deployed to the scene and
cordoned it off to start their inquiries.

Local and foreign reporters flocked the area looking for the latest
information on the incident.

The explosion ripped off a large sections of the local and international
arrivals and departure terminals' roof.

It also damaged the tail of an Air-Kenya plane bound for Eldoret.

The explosion caused a stampede as frightened passengers disembarked from
the plane and took to their heels.

The fire-brigade was on stand-by as was a convoy of ambulances at the ready
in case of emergencies.

The entire airport precincts were immediately cordoned off to members of the
public. 

All flights were re-routed to other airports while activities at the airport
were scaled down.

Attached Photo:

Firefighters at Wilson Airport after the explosion yesterday.

fire181004.jpg