France, Germany and the Netherlands Warn of an Impending Terror Attack in Nairobi

France, Germany, the UK and the Netherlands have issued warnings of an impending terror attack in Nairobi targeting places frequented by foreigners.

France’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement on Thursday warned its citizens and expatriates from other Western countries to avoid public areas and crowded places it classified as possible hotspots.

They include hotels, restaurants, leisure spots and commercial centers in the Kenyan capital.

The ministry urged foreigners living and working in Nairobi to exercise extreme vigilance in the coming days, especially over this weekend.

“People in Kenya are advised to exercise extreme vigilance and avoid frequenting these public places in the coming days, including this weekend,” the alert reads.

The Germany and Dutch embassies in Nairobi also issued a similar warning, asking their citizens in Kenya to pay special attention when out in public and be alert over the next few days.

On its part, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development office (FCDO) advises against non-essential travel to areas within 60km of the Kenya-Somali border, Eastern Garissa County (up to 20km North-West of the A3), Mandera County (excluding Mandera West Sub County), Lamu County (excluding Lamu Island and Manda Island), areas of Tana River County North of the River Tana (up to 20km North West of the A3), and within 15km of the Coast from the Tana River down to the Galana (Athi-Galana-Sabaki) river.

Early this month, the US government issued a travel advisory to its citizens to reconsider any planned trips to Kenya due to Covid-19, and exercise increased caution due to crime, terrorism, and kidnapping.

Al-Shabaab fighters have been staging attacks in the country in retaliation for Kenya sending troops into Somalia as part of an African Union force to degrade the jihadists.

The al-Qaeda-linked group is determined to overthrow the internationally-backed government in Mogadishu and controls swathes of southern Somalia from where it regularly launches attacks in Somalia and elsewhere.