WASHINGTON SAID THAT IT WAS AWARE THAT INDIVIDUALS LINKED TO AL SHABAAB WERE PLANNING BOMBING ATTACKS ON THE U.S. EMBASSY AND KENYATTA INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CENTER
Kenya’s security forces have stepped up anti-terrorism surveillance ahead of a key Internet conference scheduled for March in Nairobi.
It is reported on Thursday that the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has been hit by delegates’ withdrawal over security fears in the east African nation.
"We are left with a situation where some people would choose to attend the meeting, and some choose not to attend, based on exactly the same information. One answer will clearly not work for all," Doug Brent, ICANN Chief Operating Officer said.
The revelations came as the fate of the ICANN meeting now hangs in the balance as organizers consider alternative venues, less than a month after they assured that the meeting would proceed.
Brent said ICANN was now looking at possible alternatives to holding the meeting in Nairobi’s Kenyatta International Conference Centre after several participants said they would not travel to the country due to terrorism fears.
The newspaper reported that one alternative being discussed by the ICANN board is remote participation where delegates would communicate with each other from various points in the world using video conferencing.
"A more radical proposal is to shift the entire meeting to another venue outside Kenya, which would significantly dampen confidence levels in the tourism sector," the newspaper said.
The developments come just a week after the U.S. State Department apparently issued a fresh advisory against travel to the country, citing a new threat from Somalia’s Al Shabaab group which has ties with Al Qaeda network.
Washington said that it was aware that individuals linked to Al Shabaab were planning suicide bombing attacks on the U.S. Embassy and Kenyatta International Conference Center (KICC) in Nairobi.
The statement from the U.S. Department said the individuals were targeting the KICC because it was deemed the largest and oldest building associated with the Kenyan government.
The U.S. Embassy was targeted for its support of the Kenyan government. But Brent said the government was taking the threats seriously enough to mount an unprecedented security exercise aimed at regaining the trust of visiting delegates.
"Covert and overt security forces are being deployed at the KICC, hotels and venues where official functions will be held.
"Additionally, the airport, and road from the airport to hotels will be actively monitored and patrolled by security forces," said Brent.
ICANN’s internal team — including staff from the U.S. (California, Texas, New Jersey), France and Niger — continue to meet daily to discuss and share information related to the Nairobi meet.
Last week, ICANN received an unclassified report from the United States’ Department of State related to the Kenyatta International Conference Centre, the venue for the upcoming meeting that said the building was a key target for militants.
This is the third time the high profile conference has come under scrutiny by its organizers for security reasons.
The first time, delegates expressed their fears over the safety of the country after they received harsh advisories from their home countries warning against all but necessary travel to the country. Security fears in Kenya is particularly worrying following post- election violence in 2008 that killed some 1,000 people.
Kenya’s security forces have stepped up anti-terrorism surveillance ahead of a key Internet conference scheduled for March in Nairobi.
It is reported on Thursday that the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has been hit by delegates’ withdrawal over security fears in the east African nation.
"We are left with a situation where some people would choose to attend the meeting, and some choose not to attend, based on exactly the same information. One answer will clearly not work for all," Doug Brent, ICANN Chief Operating Officer said.
The revelations came as the fate of the ICANN meeting now hangs in the balance as organizers consider alternative venues, less than a month after they assured that the meeting would proceed.
Brent said ICANN was now looking at possible alternatives to holding the meeting in Nairobi’s Kenyatta International Conference Centre after several participants said they would not travel to the country due to terrorism fears.
The newspaper reported that one alternative being discussed by the ICANN board is remote participation where delegates would communicate with each other from various points in the world using video conferencing.
"A more radical proposal is to shift the entire meeting to another venue outside Kenya, which would significantly dampen confidence levels in the tourism sector," the newspaper said.
The developments come just a week after the U.S. State Department apparently issued a fresh advisory against travel to the country, citing a new threat from Somalia’s Al Shabaab group which has ties with Al Qaeda network.
Washington said that it was aware that individuals linked to Al Shabaab were planning suicide bombing attacks on the U.S. Embassy and Kenyatta International Conference Center (KICC) in Nairobi.
The statement from the U.S. Department said the individuals were targeting the KICC because it was deemed the largest and oldest building associated with the Kenyan government.
The U.S. Embassy was targeted for its support of the Kenyan government. But Brent said the government was taking the threats seriously enough to mount an unprecedented security exercise aimed at regaining the trust of visiting delegates.
"Covert and overt security forces are being deployed at the KICC, hotels and venues where official functions will be held.
"Additionally, the airport, and road from the airport to hotels will be actively monitored and patrolled by security forces," said Brent.
ICANN’s internal team — including staff from the U.S. (California, Texas, New Jersey), France and Niger — continue to meet daily to discuss and share information related to the Nairobi meet.
Last week, ICANN received an unclassified report from the United States’ Department of State related to the Kenyatta International Conference Centre, the venue for the upcoming meeting that said the building was a key target for militants.
This is the third time the high profile conference has come under scrutiny by its organizers for security reasons.
The first time, delegates expressed their fears over the safety of the country after they received harsh advisories from their home countries warning against all but necessary travel to the country. Security fears in Kenya is particularly worrying following post- election violence in 2008 that killed some 1,000 people.
