NATCOM WARNS AGAINST THREATS TO BOMB KMIII AIRPORT

SITEKI – Security is on high alert!

Subsequent to the circulating information about the threats to bomb aircraft at the King Mswati III International Airport, National Commissioner (NATCOM) of Police William Dlamini has disclosed that those who would be behind that mission should know that they would be taking a high risk as the police were ready and dangerously armed to ensure safety. A contigent of police officers from the Operational Support Services Unit (OSSU), as well as members of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF), have been added to the existing security personnel based at the international airport. This follows a circulating video clip about threats to burn certain places around the country, including the international airport.

Threats

The commissioner mentioned that the threats and circulating video had reached their attention and they were not taking them lightly. He said they had already beefed up security measures to ensure the safety of infrastructure. The police boss mentioned that the police would be armed with dangerous weapons and warned that those behind that mission would be putting their lives at risk. The NATCOM said those perpetuating such violence should know that they would be injured and advised that people should stop the threats as the police were taking them seriously. He said the threats were being analysed to ascertain where they came from and who was behind them. The police chief added that the police condemned the threats and warned the nation to stay away from involving themselves in such activities. He made it known that the threats had reached their attention and that there were people who were threatening to do harm to government and national structures at various places across the country.

Dlamini emphasised that security measures had been tightened to ensure that property was protected. “We want to warn them that the targeted places have the element of danger and taking that risk to bomb those places and structures would be dangerous as the security forces would be armed with weapons and coming near those structures and properties would be doing so at their own risk,” the NATCOM said. A source at the international airport also confirmed that security had been beefed up. However, he could not give figures as he stated that this bordered on national security.

According to the highly impeccable source based at the airport, government had since reinforced security by increasing the number of army personnel and police officers from OSSU to ensure safety of property, including aircraft. Just recently, last Thursday to be precise, the country woke up to news of two arson attacks. Movable property belonging to a sub-contractor to Inyatsi Construction at Hhelehhele area was reduced to ashes by a fire that was started by unknown people. Also, vehicles parked at a garage at the SACCRO building were also torched. The value of the burnt items in both incidents was estimated to be about E2.2 million as confirmed by the police at the time. The source confided that the beefing up of security was necessitated by the circulating information on social media platforms to the effect that immovable and movable properties linked with royalty should be torched.

Adding, the source mentioned that the country’s security forces’ bosses acted swiftly and increased the numbers of police officers and soldiers deployed  at the airport among other structures in the country. “This is highly classified information and the reinforcement of the police and soldiers at the King Mswati III (KMIII) International Airport has been primarily done for safety reasons to protect property and the aircraft that land there. It is a security threat to the country to issue such a call for the destruction of immovable and movable properties linked with royalty,” said the highly placed source. The source added that government was also conducting intelligence investigations on this subject matter. “Honestly, after the issuance of threats and being circulated on social media, government engaged a high gear in attending to them as well as moving fast to bring those behind them behind bars. Security in the country is now on high alert,” concluded the source.

Classified

Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF) Public Relations Officer (PRO) Tengetile Khumalo said unfortunately operations and redeployment at the army was treated as classified information. “Your questionnaire is highly appreciated. Unfortunately, operations and redeployment at the UEDF is classified information. It is not for public consumption,” she briefly said. Worth mentioning was that police officers from OSSU and soldiers were deployed in towns and industrial areas, particularly Matsapha and Mbabane, during the June-July unrest that saw property being burnt and shops being looted as well as the shooting of civilians. It is also important to note that the armed forces were also deployed in schools during protests to calm the volatile situation after pupils started burning tyres and vandalising property, including school furniture and the newly-erected hand-washing stations. Meanwhile, two houses belonging to Sihle Dlamini. Dlamini is the King’s Interpreter and Estate Manager at the King’s Office. Another house belonging to a brother to Inkhosikati Lagija was also petrol-bombed.

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