The British embassy says the only UK contact in Kenya was the offer of routine consular assistance following the arrest of Adebolajo (C) in Lamu/AFP
The British High Commission’s spokesman John Bradshaw says the only UK contact in Kenya was the offer of routine consular assistance following Adebolajo arrest in Lamu.
“There is an established procedure for returning foreign nationals to the UK from overseas. Individuals arrested abroad and not facing charges there are usually put on the next available flight back by the authorities of that country,” Bradshaw explained.
At the weekend, Government Spokesman Muthui Kariuki was quoted saying Adebolajo had indeed been arrested in late 2010, saying earlier denials had been due to initial confusion as he had been arrested under a different name.
“He was arrested under a different name, a fake name,” Kariuki told Agence France Presse. “We did not process him, as he was handed over to the local MI5.”
On Tuesday, Bradshaw said that British embassies are usually alerted to such arrests in order to provide any necessary consular support. “In some cases we and/or the country in question may also alert UK police to someone coming back to the UK.”
Adebolajo is being held in London over last Wednesday’s brutal killing of soldier Lee Rigby in broad daylight on a street in the British capital.
There has been controversy over Adebolajo’s terror links after it emerged he was well known to UK anti-terror police for at least three years before the Woolwich attack.
“There is an established procedure for returning foreign nationals to the UK from overseas. Individuals arrested abroad and not facing charges there are usually put on the next available flight back by the authorities of that country,” Bradshaw explained.
The Independent on Sunday reported that members of his family said he was ‘pestered’ by MI5 agents pressuring him to become an informant for them and infiltrate radical Islamic extremist groups. Relatives said other family members were also harassed and questioned by the UK authorities.
Adebolajo’s brother-in law told the newspapers that constant demands to get him to spy on Muslim clerics might have pushed him over the edge.
It was also reported that Michael Adebowale, who was arrested alongside Adebolajo after the soldier’s killing, had been detained by British police two months ago.
Kenya arrested Adebolajo and several other youths in 2010 after police claimed the men were travelling to Somalia to join the ranks of the Al Shabaab terrorist group. The Shabaab are an Al-Qaeda linked group fighting in Somalia, but with ties in neighbouring nations including Kenya’s Indian Ocean coastal region.
A Kenyan anti-terrorism police officer told AFP Adebolajo was arrested and questioned in 2010 over links to Somalia’s Shabaab insurgents as he had been in contact with other suspects Kenyan police were tracking in the port city of Mombasa.
The young men had gone on a speedboat from Lamu island to Pate island, where they were arrested by police who were waiting for them after a tip off.
However, Adebolajo was released after about two days due to a lack of evidence.
“I remember the arrest. There were suspects who were being pursued in Mombasa and Adebolajo ended up in custody because he had been speaking to them,” the officer told AFP.
“There was no evidence to nail him so he was released. He was interrogated both in Mombasa and Nairobi.”
Kariuki also rejected allegations Adebolajo was assaulted while in Kenyan custody, saying: “Senior members of the intelligence community… denied knowledge of the torture ordeal.”
Adebolajo was caught on camera last Wednesday carrying bloodied knives and a meat cleaver saying he killed off-duty soldier Rigby because British troops were killing Muslims.
Adebolajo, 28, and Adebowale, 22, remain under armed guard in separate London hospitals after being shot by police at the murder scene.
British police have so far arrested 10 suspects following the killing.
British police have so far arrested 10 suspects following the killing.
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