December 12, 2002, The Philippine Star, Military fears Christmas bombing spree by Abu Sayyaf,

December 12, 2002, The Philippine Star, Military fears Christmas bombing spree by Abu Sayyaf,

ZAMBOANGA (AFP) – Abu Sayyaf Muslim rebels were planning a Christmas bombing campaign using booby-trapped parcels, according to a military report obtained in the southern Philippines here yesterday. 

The report said a supply of blasting caps, seized last week on a ferry in the southernmost islands of Tawi-tawi, were to be used in the plot by the Abu Sayyaf, who have been linked to the al-Qaeda network of terror mastermind Osama bin Laden. 

"The items are part of (Abu Sayyaf) plans to manufacture improvised explosive devices in the form of Christmas gifts/packages to be delivered to select targets during Yuletide season," the military report said without giving further details. 

The Abu Sayyaf are known for kidnapping foreigners and Christians and holding them for hefty ransom payments. 

They have also been blamed for a series of bomb blasts in the southern Philippines in October that claimed more than a dozen lives including one US serviceman. 

Last month, post office officials said Christmas mail would be delayed this year due to security precautions to make sure no bombs were being sent. 

The daughter of a Christian pastor was killed by a booby-trapped Christmas present in the northern Philippines in November but the attack was attributed to a local dispute and not related to the Abu Sayyaf. 

In the southern island of Basilan, Wednesday, regional military chief Lieutenant General Narciso Abaya presented to the public two Abu Sayyaf members captured last week, along with a cache of firearms recovered from the rebel group. 

"With the help of the people, we are getting them one by one. We are expecting more arrests while some would be surrendering. If they would not surrender, they will be killed," Abaya said. 

Earlier, the US Justice Department announced that it had indicted six more Abu Sayyaf members for the kidnapping and murder of Americans in the Philippines. [FUCKING NAMES ANYONE?]

"The US government is committed to tracking down and prosecuting those terrorists responsible for the deaths of innocent Americans in the Philippines," Attorney General John Ashcroft said.