Terror suspect shot dead in escape attempt

A man suspected of masterminding terrorist attacks in Arusha, Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam died enroute to the hospital after police shot him as he allegedly tried to escape from custody over the weekend.

Regional Police Commander (RPC) Liberatus Sabas yesterday confirmed the incident to journalists in Arusha He said the suspect, Yahaya Hassan Omar Heal alias Yahaya Sensei (31) of Mianzini in Arusha, was shot dead on Sunday (October 19) at around 23:30 hours in Kisongo along the Arusha-Babati road.

The RPC explained that police were transporting him to his home village of Chemechem in Kondoa District, Dodoma Region where they expected him to reveal hidden the explosive devices that he had allegedly admitted hiding there. "When we interrogated him, he admitted to having been involved in different terrorist attacks in the country,” RPC told reporters.

However, according to the police while enroute, the suspect, a karate and judo trainer attempted to escape and attacked the police escorting him. Continue