British terrorist dubbed the 'White Widow' reportedly shot dead in Kenyan mall

Published: 2013 September 24 08:07:25 (5236 Views)

The British terrorist dubbed the 'White Widow' may have been shot dead by Kenyan soldiers after the Nairobi mall massacre.

Investigators are trying to identify the body of a white woman found among the Islamic militants killed as troops stormed the complex.

And there were claims that it could be fugitive mum-of-three Samantha Lewthwaite, from Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.

Experts believe she helped plan the bloodbath and may have been part of the masked gang that slaughtered 62 shoppers, including six Brits.

An intelligence source said: "Lewthwaite is the most wanted female terrorist in the world.

"She has managed to evade capture for two years but she may have finally been killed."

The source added that Lewthwaite may have plotted the slaughter with the al-Shabaab terror group in revenge for the capture of her right hand man.

She had allegedly planned to bomb Kenyan beach resorts with London-born Jermaine Grant. Police swooped on the pair at their Mombasa home in December 2011 – but Lewthwaite escaped and has been on the run ever since.

Chemicals found in their rented apartment were identical to the ingredients Lewthwaite's former husband Jermaine Lindsay used to kill 26 people and himself in the London 7/7 attacks.

Grant, 31, was today due to stand trial for the planned atrocities but prosecutors in Mombasa dramatically halted the hearing as it emerged Lewthwaite was a prime suspect in the Nairobi atrocity.

One senior security official said that despite the reports of her death, many believed Lewthwaite was still at large.

He added: "We are dealing with a very fast moving target. Everything is being done to locate her.

"She is an al-Shabaab lieutenant and has used her influence to bring bloodshed to Kenya. The timings of this attack is very sensitive.

"We are fully aware of her links with Jermaine Grant, who will be brought to justice just like those who have brought carnage to our streets."

Grant, from Newham, East London, failed to appear in court in Mombasa today.

Previous court hearings have heard how Lewthwaite plotted an armed operation to free him using similar tactics to those employed by the Westgate shopping centre terrorists.

Jacob Ondari, the deputy public prosecutor, told Mombasa magistrates in March: "I pray that this case be moved to Shanzu courts within the prison premises for the sake of the court's security.

"There are intelligence reports indicating that there are plans to rescue the first accused from the prison."

Mr Ondari said one man linked to the operation was recently arrested in Mombasa with a grenade.

Another was stopped crossing into Kenya from Tanzania with bullet-proof vests and face masks.

As a result, the trial, at which six Scotland Yard anti-terror officers are due to testify, was moved to "safe" court inside the grounds of a high security jail.

Today's hearing was adjourned after Mr Ondari mysteriously failed to show up at court.

The case is due to resume tomorrow.

As the bloody siege in Nairobi entered its third day, officials said the death toll could double after it emerged that at least 63 are still missing.

Kenyan officials confirmed that three terrorists had been killed and more than 10 suspects arrested.

Eleven Kenyan soldiers have been wounded in running gun battles.

The attackers still held at least 10 to 15 hostages.

- Mirror

Tags: Kenya, hostages, attack,

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