Brutal assault on guard triggers arrest after viral footage

A man in handcuffs

A joint team of detectives in Mombasa has arrested a robbery with violence suspect following circulation of a disturbing video showing a brutal attack on a night watchman.

The suspect was apprehended by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Regional Headquarters in Mombasa, working together with their counterparts from DCI Urban and Tononoka police station.

The arrest comes days after footage went viral across social media platforms, sparking public outrage and renewed concern over rising incidents of violent crime in the coastal city.

In the video, the suspect and an accomplice are seen armed with a panga as they launch a vicious assault on the watchman.

The attackers repeatedly strike the guard before overpowering him and fleeing the scene with his mobile phone.

Following the incident, detectives launched an intensive manhunt to identify and track down the perpetrators. 

Their efforts led them to a guesthouse in Bondeni A, where the suspect had gone into hiding.

Officers moved in swiftly and arrested him without resistance.

A search conducted at the premises led to the recovery of several items believed to be linked to the robbery and other criminal activities.

Among the recovered exhibits were six assorted mobile phones suspected to have been stolen from previous victims, a blood-stained panga believed to have been used during the attack, two knives and a greyish kanzu that matched the clothing seen in the CCTV footage circulating online.

Investigators say the recovered evidence strengthens the case against the suspect and suggests his involvement in a series of violent robberies within Mombasa.

The suspect is currently being held in police custody as detectives complete investigations before presenting him in court.

Authorities confirmed that he will be arraigned on charges related to robbery with violence.

Meanwhile, police have intensified efforts to track down the second suspect captured in the video, who is still on the run.

The DCI has appealed to members of the public to share any information that may assist in locating the accomplice.

In a statement, the DCI reaffirmed its commitment to fighting crime and protecting residents, saying collaboration between different police units and the use of forensic technology were instrumental in the swift arrest.

The incident has once again highlighted the role of digital evidence in modern policing, as the viral footage helped draw attention to the crime and accelerated investigative efforts.