Mombasa county police chief Robert Kitur said at least 100 youths were arrested during the chaos that lasted several hours/CFM News
Our correspondent who was at the centre of the confrontation said at least 10 other youths were taken to hospital with gunshot wounds following the violence.
A GSU officer was stabbed with a sword and it was unclear if he was alive by the time he was carried away from the scene.
His G3 rifle was stolen by the youths.
Mombasa county police chief Robert Kitur said at least 100 youths were arrested during the chaos that lasted several hours.
“We had information that they were going to converge in this mosque to spread Jihadism. As the National Police we moved in very fast and you have seen we have arrested close to 100 youths who will be taken to a court of law tomorrow,” Kitur said.
He however said some of the youths managed to escape adding the police will continue with the search and take them court too.
“They are radicalising youths in this mosque. They wanted to continue with the training and that is why we had to intervene,” the police boss added.
However Kitur emphasised that the police will not tire to fight the training of the radical group to ensure peace in the town and the country as a whole.
On Saturday, Interior PS Mutea Iringo expressed concern over the growing trend. He said investigations revealed that radicalization is going on even in schools where youths are indoctrinated to join the Al Shabaab terror group.
However the government plans to expand community engagement and development programs to empower local communities as part of the measures to contain the situation.
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