US embassy in Kenya, scene of previous bombing, begins anti-terror drill with Kenyan police

US embassy in Kenya begins anti-terror drill

NAIROBI, Kenya — The U.S. embassy in Kenya has begun a drill to practice coordinating its response to a terrorist attack in conjunction with Kenyan security forces.

A spokesman says Friday’s drill was not undertaken in response to any specific threat and had been planned for about eight months.

John Haynes says such drills were not routine and this one was undertaken at the initiative of the embassy.

A press release from the embassy said roads would be blocked off and that smoke grenades would be used and blank rounds fired. Branches of several Kenyan security forces and local hospitals took part.

U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania were bombed by Islamic extremists in 1998. The attacks killed 224 people, including 12 Americans.