Mombasa: Muslim businessman accused of terror links killed Published duration 12 July 2014

image copyright AFP image caption Security has been tight in Mombasa where a number of prominent Muslims have been murdered recently

Two gunmen have shot dead a prominent Muslim businessman facing terrorism charges in the Kenyan city of Mombasa.

Mohamed Shahid Butt was driving back from the airport on Friday evening when his car was blocked by another vehicle and two gunmen opened fire.

Mr Butt was due to appear in court next month charged with funding the radicalisation of Muslim youth.

On the coast near Mombasa there has been a string of killings of people associated with Islamic extremism.

Series of murders

Human rights activists have accused the Kenyan government of being behind the assassinations, since few have been resolved.

The police chief of Mombasa County, Richard Kitur, told the Associated Press news agency that Mr Butt had just picked up his son at the airport before he was killed.

Mr Butt appeared in court last year over allegations by authorities of incitement and funding terrorism-related activities.

In the past two years, three well-known Muslims, who have been publicly linked to extremism, have also been killed.