“I was told by some people in Kenya that the guys in Kismayo were the
best Muslims, I wanted to go somewhere sunny where I could relax and
hang-out with other Muslims without being bothered by people,” he said.
Mr Dennis, who was reportedly born in Jamaica, appeared unaware that his
smoking, short Rastafarian-style dreadlocks and earrings would have marked
him out as a delinquent in the eyes of al-Shabaab’s religious commanders.
He was allegedly found to be carrying hashish in his luggage, which would
likely have brought him an instant death sentence if he had managed to make
contact with the jihadists.
As many as 40 British citizens are understood to be training with al-Shabaab
in southern Somalia, mostly radicalised young Muslims bent on carrying out
attacks in East Africa, or, analysts fear, exporting their skills back
Britain.
Mr Dennis said that he used his British credit card to pay for his travel to
Kenya and his onward flight to Mogadishu.
A Somali government spokesman said that the “due course of the law”
would be followed, and that Mr Dennis would likely face charges for entering
the country illegally.
He was not seen as a serious threat “compared to the terrorists we
usually have to face”, the spokesman added.
Related posts:
Views: 0