The 32-year-old is believed to be at the side of al-Shabaab leader Ahmad Umar, gaining favour through masterminding and ordering attacks such as last year’s slaughter of 148 by gunmen at a university in Kenya.

Security chiefs believe the clever mother-of-four is seen as an asset to the terror group and Interpol have a ‘red notice’ on her.

A Durham Police spokeswoman said: “Police received a report that a woman said to resemble Samantha Lewthwaite, aka The White Widow, had checked into Bannatyne’s Hotel, Darlington, on Boxing Day.

“Inquiries are currently taking place in relation to the report.”

A security chief, in the Somalian capital, frequently bombed by al Shabaab, said she was rapidly promoted through the ranks of al Shabaab after many of its leaders died in drone attacks.

The London University graduate was quickly recognised as intelligent and evil-minded enough by terror bosses to be trusted with the most horrific atrocities.

A senior Somali anti-terror officer said: “She is an evil person but a very clever operator.”

It is believed she has ordered the deaths of over 400 people.

Lewthwaite, of Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, is believed to have directed terror raids, suicide attacks and car bombings in Somalia and Kenya, as well as masterminding last month’s slaughter of 148 people, by gunmen at a university in Garissa, northern Kenya.

She has also launched a recruitment drive of teenagers and women as suicide bombers after bribing their desperate families with as little as £300.

One London resident blew herself up at a hotel in the Somali capital Mogadishu in February killing 25.

The hotel declined to comment,Express reported.

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