MOMBASA: Authorities in Kenya’s troubled port city of Mombasa said on Thursday they were allowing four mosques to reopen following a string of raids to hunt for weapons and supporters of Somalia’s Shebab militants.

Last week police said they found grenades, ammunition and petrol bombs and detained scores of people in swoops on the Masjid Musa, Sakina, Swafaa and Minaa mosques. One person was also shot dead as they tried to throw a grenade at police.

“Our intention is not to take over mosques, we are here to help you and your safety,” said Mombasa County Commissioner Nelson Marwa, announcing that the mosques could reopen in time for Friday prayers. “I want to tell you now that the mosques are now open and you are all welcome to go to the mosques,” he said.

The raids prompted fresh unrest in Mombasa, an important tourist centre key port city and gateway for trade with east Africa, with four people stabbed to death in apparent revenge attacks.

Somalia’s Al Qaeda-affiliated Shebab Islamists on Saturday also ambushed a bus in northern Kenya and executed 28 non-Muslim passengers in what they said was revenge for the raids. Muslim civil society groups have accused police of worsening what they describe as an already volatile situation.

Several Islamic preachers have been shot dead in Mombasa in recent years in alleged extra-judicial killings by security forces and power struggles between moderate and radical Muslim factions. Churches have also been attacked.

Published in Dawn, November 28th, 2014