A Canadian Citizen is among six people suspected of aiding a terrorist attack in Kenya this week.
At least 21 people were killed when four gunmen opened fire in a hotel complex in Nairobi, a fifth attacker blew himself up during the terrorist attack.
The four gunmen were killed in the attack.
Al-Shabab, a Somali terrorist organization linked to Al-Qaeda, has claimed responsibility.
The brutal attack began when the terrorists threw grenades inside a hotel complex, then began gunning down civilians as they ran away from the explosions.
One of the gunmen was reported to have then blown himself up outside of a restaurant inside the complex.
Among those killed was a police officer in the line of duty.
The Canadian citizen has been identified as Guleid Abdihakim.
The six suspects detained by authorities in Kenya, including Abdihakim, have been accused of “aiding and abetting” the five Al-Shabab terrorists.
As has been reported, the details of Abdihakim’s Canadian background are not known as of yet.
We don’t yet know where he was born, how he obtained a Canadian passport or if he ever lived in Canada.
One witness reported seeing the suicide bomber discussing the plan with some of his accomplices prior to the attack.
He had one arm over his chest as if he was hiding something.
Seconds later, there was an explosion.
Al-Shabab has a long history of launching attacks in neighbouring Kenya, including a 2013 mall attack that killed 67, as well as a 2015 university attack which killed 167.
According to a report by Natasha Fatah on CBC News, the attackers and co-conspirators in the latest hotel attack were in constant cell phone contact with people in Somalia, suggesting that the attack was planned directly by Al-Shabab agents outside of Kenya.
It was originally reported that there were five suspects, but AP later reported a sixth suspect was arrested and prosecutors are still seeking more suspects in Kenya and abroad.
The situation is still developing and more details on the life of Abdihakim are forthcoming.
