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Kenya bans air traffic with Somalia over `terrorism threat`
Nairobi, June 22: Kenya today said a `terrorism threat` has led it to ban flights indefinitely both to and from neighbouring Somalia.
Nairobi, June 22: Kenya today said a "terrorism threat" has led it to ban flights indefinitely both to and from neighbouring Somalia.
"Kenya has closed its airspace to every aircraft coming from Somalia, or flying to that country," Kenya's civil aviation air navigation services director Henry Ochieng said.
"The airspace has been closed as a result of a terrorism threat," police spokesman Jesse Mituki said.
The flight ban comes a day after Kenyan police launched a massive anti-terrorism sweep in Nairobi, detaining at least 38 people for questioning yesterday.
The US embassy in the Kenyan capital also shut on Friday, a day after the Pentagon's defence intelligence agency warned of a "possible, imminent" terrorist attack in the country. It will remain closed at least through Tuesday, the embassy has said.
Kenya has in the past accused Somalia, which has been ruled by rival warlords since its dictator was overthrown in 1991, of being responsible for the infiltration of arms into the country.
The US administration has also accused the Horn of Africa country of being a safe haven for extremist groups.
Bureau Report
"Kenya has closed its airspace to every aircraft coming from Somalia, or flying to that country," Kenya's civil aviation air navigation services director Henry Ochieng said.
"The airspace has been closed as a result of a terrorism threat," police spokesman Jesse Mituki said.
The flight ban comes a day after Kenyan police launched a massive anti-terrorism sweep in Nairobi, detaining at least 38 people for questioning yesterday.
The US embassy in the Kenyan capital also shut on Friday, a day after the Pentagon's defence intelligence agency warned of a "possible, imminent" terrorist attack in the country. It will remain closed at least through Tuesday, the embassy has said.
Kenya has in the past accused Somalia, which has been ruled by rival warlords since its dictator was overthrown in 1991, of being responsible for the infiltration of arms into the country.
The US administration has also accused the Horn of Africa country of being a safe haven for extremist groups.
Bureau Report