Multiple reports of bombs in the African country of Kenya have indicated a threat to the human rights and security of the public. This includes reports of an attempted terrorist bombing  at the Kutus Catholic Christian Church in Kirinyaga, as well as a suspicious device which looked like bomb on Air France Flight 463 (AF463) at Moi International Airport in Mombasa, Kenya.  In both cases, there have been no reported injuries.  Flight AF463 was headed to Charles DeGaulle airport in Paris with 459 passengers.  It had departed from the island nation of Mauritius.

At the Kutus Catholic Church, the police successfully detonated a bomb outside of the church after it was found by worshipers during Sunday Christian worship services.  Richard Kanyuiro and two other Christian worshipers discovered the bomb during services, while they were giving their Sunday offering, and at first they thought it was  a toy.  Then, they called the police who discovered it was, in fact, a bomb in the Catholic church.   After the police recognized the device as a bomb,  the Kutus Catholic Church in Kirinyaga County was evacuated during Sunday worship service.  The Kenya news service The Nation reported that: “Area chairman of Catholic Men Association, Mr Paul Njeru, said it was likely that the bomb was planted very early in the morning by unknown terrorists. ” Mr. Njeru told The Nation that “Usually the church is opened at 7am so that those want to pray before the service starts can do so. Therefore it is likely the terrorists sneaked into the church posing as worshippers and planted the bomb.” “The local priest Father Njenga said it was by the grace of God that the bomb did not explode as the service was going on.”

Air France Flight 463 with 473 passengers and crew made an emergency landing due to finding a suspicious package in a toilet. The Kenyan Airport Authorities stated that “Kenya Security foiled a bombing attempt on Air France,” and that “bomb experts discovered a bomb inside Air France [plane] at Moi International Airport,” and that “the explosive was carried away to a safe place outside the airport.”

Kenya news reports state that 6 AF463 passengers are being questioned.

The Seattle Times reported that it looked like a “a stopwatch mounted on a box.”

UPDATE: CBS reported that: “The CEO of Air France said hours after the plane had been grounded that the device discovered in the bathroom was a fake bomb.” “Frederic Gagey, the head of the airline, said the device was made of cardboard, paper and a household timer, and had been found in a little cupboard that is behind a mirror.”

 

French news media has not yet provided that level confirmation yet. We have translated the report from Le Monde into English on this report:

“A plane of Air France made ​​an emergency landing in the night from Saturday 19 to Sunday, December 20 following the discovery of a suspicious package on board. Flight AF 463, with 459 people on board and 14 crew members, left Mauritius at 21 am local time, and was to arrive at the airport of Roissy-Charles de Gaulle to 5 h 50. It landed at the airport international Mombasa, on the coast of Kenya, at 00 h 37 local time. “He requested an emergency landing after a suspected device to be a bomb was discovered in the toilet. An emergency landing was made, he safely landed and passengers were evacuated, “said Charles Owino, a spokesman of the Police Kenyan.” Experts in explosives Navy and Department of Investigations criminal police were called, took this device and dismounted to see if it contained explosives, “he added. The Kenyan Minister of Interior, Joseph Nkaissery, who immediately went to Mombasa, said late morning that police questioned several passengers of the flight without power in specifying the exact number six according to news agency Associated Press (AP). Mr Nkaissery declined to comment on the nature of the craft in question. “It’s an international affair and we are also talking to the island of Mauritius authorities to find out if there was a search of passengers before they board, “added the minister, who then visited the travelers to a hotel which has been made ​​available. Contacted, Air France said that at this stage “we do not yet know the nature of the object” found on board. “The Kenyan authorities continued their investigation and we remain in contact with them,” said a spokesman. “A Accommodation is provided” for the evacuated passengers and “Air France makes every effort to ensure diversion of its customers and plans to send a unit to Mombasa to ensure their return to Paris. The departure of the flight Paris-Mombasa is expected later in the day, Sunday, December 20, “said the airline. The group “regrets the inconvenience and delay caused to its customers,” but assures that he had “other priorities than ensuring the safety of its passengers.” “

At the time of this posting, there has been no specific terrorist organization or individuals which have taken credit for these failed attempts.  Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) will update this is significant new information is learned.

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Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) stands in support of our universal human rights for all, and we stand in defiance against those, including terrorist and hate groups, which seek to attack such universal human rights, dignity, and security for all.

We cannot support human rights, if we also do not reject those who seek to rob our brothers and sisters in humanity of their lives and security, which are also our universal human rights.