Package containing visa forms prompts bomb scare at Canadian High Commission in Nairobi

NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenya’s police chief says a large package sent to the Canadian High Commission in Nairobi caused a bomb scare but turned out to be visa forms.

Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet said Thursday the road to the Canadian diplomatic offices was sealed off as Kenyan bomb experts inspected the package.

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Boinnet says the 30-kilogram package was found to contain visa application forms.

Kenya is on high alert during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan that started earlier this month because Islamic extremists from Somalia have been known to increase attacks during this period.

Somalia’s al-Shabab rebels, who are allied to al-Qaida, have carried out several attacks in Kenya that have killed hundreds, saying they are retribution for Kenya deploying troops to Somalia to fight the extremists.