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| Somali al-Shabab commander Ikrima 'spent time in UK' | Somali al-Shabab commander Ikrima 'spent time in UK' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| An al-Shabab commander who was the target of a recent abortive US special forces raid in Somalia had spent time in the UK, the BBC has learned. | An al-Shabab commander who was the target of a recent abortive US special forces raid in Somalia had spent time in the UK, the BBC has learned. |
| Abdukadir Mohamed Abdukadir, widely known as Ikrima, has been linked to alleged terror plots in Kenya. | |
| Friends have told the BBC that he came to the UK in 2007 and spent time in London, before moving to Somalia the following year. | Friends have told the BBC that he came to the UK in 2007 and spent time in London, before moving to Somalia the following year. |
| US Navy Seals failed in an attempt to capture him on 5 October. | US Navy Seals failed in an attempt to capture him on 5 October. |
| The raid followed an attack on the Westgate shopping centre in Nairobi, Kenya, on 21 September that lasted four days and left at least 67 people dead. | The raid followed an attack on the Westgate shopping centre in Nairobi, Kenya, on 21 September that lasted four days and left at least 67 people dead. |
| Al-Shabab has claimed responsibility for the siege. | Al-Shabab has claimed responsibility for the siege. |
| Lewthwaite connection | Lewthwaite connection |
| The BBC's East Africa correspondent Gabriel Gatehouse said it was not clear what role, if any, Ikrima had played in that attack. | |
| He is thought to be a recruiter of foreign fighters, and a key link between al-Shabab in Somalia, and al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, based in Yemen, our correspondent added. | |
| In 2004 he travelled to Norway, where he unsuccessfully sought asylum. | In 2004 he travelled to Norway, where he unsuccessfully sought asylum. |
| The BBC has discovered that in early 2007 he came to Britain and spent time in London, before moving back to Somalia. | The BBC has discovered that in early 2007 he came to Britain and spent time in London, before moving back to Somalia. |
| Leaked Kenyan intelligence documents have linked him to Samantha Lewthwaite - the British widow of one of the 7/7 suicide attackers on the London transport system in 2005. | |
| An alleged plot to bomb targets in Kenya was foiled, police say, when they raided a number of addresses in Mombasa in December 2011. | An alleged plot to bomb targets in Kenya was foiled, police say, when they raided a number of addresses in Mombasa in December 2011. |
| Ms Lewthwaite slipped away, her whereabouts are unknown. | Ms Lewthwaite slipped away, her whereabouts are unknown. |
| Our correspondent said the Kenyan authorities believe apprehending Ms Lewthwaite and Ikrima could help prevent future attacks similar to the one at Westgate. | |
| Appeal for troops | Appeal for troops |
| Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has said an extra 4,500 troops are needed by the UN-backed African Union force (Amisom) fighting al-Shabab in Somalia. | Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has said an extra 4,500 troops are needed by the UN-backed African Union force (Amisom) fighting al-Shabab in Somalia. |
| Mr Ban said in a report to the UN Security Council that recent military advances against al-Shabab could be reversed and there was a danger of more Westgate-style attacks if the 18,000-strong force was not bolstered. | Mr Ban said in a report to the UN Security Council that recent military advances against al-Shabab could be reversed and there was a danger of more Westgate-style attacks if the 18,000-strong force was not bolstered. |
| Al-Shabab said it had staged the attack on Westgate in response to Kenya's army joining Amisom and carrying out operations on Somali territory. | Al-Shabab said it had staged the attack on Westgate in response to Kenya's army joining Amisom and carrying out operations on Somali territory. |
| The UN chief said that in addition to a troop surge, which would have to be paid for by richer UN member states, the African force also needed military attack helicopters. | The UN chief said that in addition to a troop surge, which would have to be paid for by richer UN member states, the African force also needed military attack helicopters. |
| He appealed to both African and non-African countries to supply these. | He appealed to both African and non-African countries to supply these. |
| The BBC's international development correspondent Mark Doyle said the African Union had requested a boost of more than 6,000 troops, so concern had been expressed by African diplomats at the lower figure recommended by Mr Ban. | The BBC's international development correspondent Mark Doyle said the African Union had requested a boost of more than 6,000 troops, so concern had been expressed by African diplomats at the lower figure recommended by Mr Ban. |
| In the past two years, Amisom has made significant advances against al-Shabab, pushing their main armed units out of several cities including the capital, Mogadishu, and the key southern port of Kismayo. | In the past two years, Amisom has made significant advances against al-Shabab, pushing their main armed units out of several cities including the capital, Mogadishu, and the key southern port of Kismayo. |
| But the militants still control many smaller towns and large rural areas of southern Somalia. | But the militants still control many smaller towns and large rural areas of southern Somalia. |