White Widow linked to Garissa attack
Samantha Lewthwaite (pictured), a British woman commonly known as the “White Widow”, was behind the Garissa University College terror attack, sources said
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Samantha Lewthwaite, a British woman commonly known as the “White Widow”, was behind the Garissa University College terror attack, UK papers claimed on Monday
Samantha Lewthwaite, a British woman commonly known as the “White Widow”, was behind the Garissa University College terror attack, UK papers claimed on Monday.
According to the Mirror, Ms Lewthwaite masterminded the slaughter of 148 Kenyans, majority of them university students.
The report quotes top Somalia intelligence chiefs, who now say they are working closely with their British counterparts to get Ms Lewthwaite, “dead or alive.”
It is the second time the “White Widow” is being linked to mass killings on Kenyan soil, including the September 21, 2013 terror attack at the Westgate Mall, in which 67 people were slaughtered during a four-day attack.
Initial reports had suggested that she personally supervised the attack at Westgate but the claims were later discounted.
According to the Mirror, the “White Widow” has murdered 400 people since joining the terror group.
“She is an evil person but a very clever operator,” the report quotes a top Somalia intelligence official whose identity is not given for security reasons.
It notes that Ms Lewthwaite has also launched a recruitment drive of teenagers and women as suicide bombers after bribing their desperate families with as little as £300 (Sh44,000).
She is believed to have sent brain-washed boys, as young as 15, to their deaths as suicide bombers – after they were pumped with heroin.
“The lady has moved up the ranks. She is one of the most important figures in the terror group.
“We think this lady is sitting at the right hand of the leader directing attacks,” the report quotes the intelligence officer.
“She does not carry out attacks herself as she is too important but is responsible for many, many deaths - hundreds.
“She uses children to kill for her after giving money to their families.”
The report notes that Ms Lewthwaite’s days are however numbered as NISA operatives are working with MI6 to capture her, dead or alive.
“We share all our information with British agents here in Mogadishu. They are here to keep an eye on the lady and other Britons in Somalia.
“The SAS are ready to get her or we are ready to call in a drone strike against her. We will get her eventually.
“We know she has surrounded herself with other Britons, her own people as her Somali language is not so good. They are her lieutenants and bodyguards.”
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