TWO Iranians arrested over terror charges had one of the most powerful military explosives in the world capable of causing great damage, a Nairobi court heard yesterday.
Government analyst Catherine Sera yesterday said samples collected by anti-terror police unit revealed the substance to be RDX, a powerful explosive.
Sera was testifying before Milimani’s chief magistrate Kiarie Waweru in a case in which Ahmad Abolfathi and Sayed Mansouri have been charged with being found with explosives
The two have denied possessing 15 kilogrammes of explosive substances. Sera said the RDX was designed and used in World War II.
“It is a secondary explosive meaning it cannot explode on its own unless a stimulus such as heat, powerful blow is applied,” she said.
“The substance has a high degree of stability when in storage. But it is highly explosive and can bring down a tall building like the Times Tower.”
Sera said the explosive is not porous to the skin but is a fine powder and can be dangerous if inhaled or exposed to the eyes.
During the cross examination by defense lawyer Kiraithe Wandungi, Sera revealed she only analysed 49 grammes brought by the police and was not aware of the 15 kilogrammes.
Sera said she carried out the analysis with the help of two others. She was put to task by the defence team who argued she had not indicated that fact in her report.
Another witness, investigating officer Eric Opagal,
said he was contacted by his immediate superior from the anti-terror police unit to take over the case. He said he was given intelligence reports that a package containing explosives had been shipped into Mombasa.
“I took over the investigation from the arresting officer. I interrogated the suspects but only one could understand me, the first accused. So we proceeded with the assistant commissioner (John Muthusi) together with the first accused to Mombasa at nearly midnight,” said Opagal. The hearing of the case continues.
