July 7 bomber widow Samantha Lewthwaite charged with planning explosions

The Daily Telegraph has seen a copy of the charge sheet naming Lewthwaite and
Ghani, which accuses them of possessing acetone, hydrogen peroxide, ammonium
nitrate, sulphur and lead nitrate, as well as batteries, a switch and
electrical wire.

The chemicals are almost identical to those Lindsay used for the London
bombings.

Ghani and Lewthwaite are also charged with a second count of conspiracy to
cause an explosion. The maximum sentences for both charges are seven years
each.

“Samantha Lewthwaite was charged in absentia and a warrant of arrest
issued against her,” said Jacob Ondari, Kenya’s assistant director of
public prosecutions.

“She is still at large.”

Mr Ondari is leading the state’s case against Jermaine Grant, who has denied
all the charges against him, as have his three Kenyan co-accused.

Police believe Lewthwaite, Ghani and Grant were part of the same British
terror cell that was planning Christmas attacks on hotels popular with
Western tourists along Kenya’s white-sand Indian Ocean coast.

They had rented a series of houses in Mombasa, including at least two close to
resorts at Shanzu, a 20 minute drive north of the city.

Raids on the houses in late December and January found the bomb-making
equipment as well as an assault rifle, ammunition and plastic bags stuffed
with cash.

Lewthwaite, who is on the run with her three children, aged seven, six and
two, is believed to have fled north to Somalia, where she is said to have
connections with al-Shabaab, the country’s al-Qaeda affiliate.

Her charge sheet and arrest warrant are dated January 4, 2012, which is when
Scotland Yard detectives were in Kenya helping police with their
investigations into Grant.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman refused to comment on Lewthwaite’s charges,
saying it was “a matter for the Kenyan police”.

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