/ stevenwarran's Library/ Notes/ November 15, 2002, Business Times (Malaysia), Manila agents nab suspected leader of extremist group, by Manuel Mogato,
November 15, 2002, Business Times (Malaysia), Manila agents nab suspected leader of extremist group, by Manuel Mogato,
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November 15, 2002, Business Times (Malaysia), Manila agents nab suspected leader of extremist group, by Manuel Mogato,
MILITARY intelligence agents arrested on Tuesday the suspected leader of an extremist group that is believed to be responsible for the series of bomb attacks in Zamboanga City last month. Air Force Lt Colonel Francisco Cruz, commander of the 300th Air Force Intelligence and Security Group (AISG), said that Edris Abdulmukim was arrested at about 5pm onboard a commuter jeepney near the gates of Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.
Edris was tagged as the leader of the urban special operations and explosive team of the Islamic extremist group Abu Sayyaf (ASG). He was working under ASG leaders Khaddafy Janjalani and Abu Sulaiman. The arrested leader of the ASG's bomb team is also known by other names, Hamil Hamja Hajirul, Ryan, and Alex.
Edris, 30, a Tausug from Isabela City in Basilan island, did not resist arrest. He was unarmed and was on his way to a safe house in a Muslim community in Maharlika Village, Tagig City, south of the capital.
"Edris has been in the city for the last two to three weeks," Cruz told Asahi Shimbun. "We believed that he was here in the capital to sow terror. He has told us that they were planning to bomb shopping malls and other public areas in Metro Manila."
Cruz said the military intelligence has been closely monitoring Edris' movements since he arrived in the capital since before Nov 1. "We are trying to find out who his contacts and associates are in the capital."
General Benjamin Defensor, Armed Forces chief of staff, said the Abu Sayyaf Group was planning to attack "soft targets" in the capital next month after the end of Ramadan. Defensor said Edris co-operated with the military, admitting his participation in past criminal and terrorist activities and revealing tactical plans, including potential bomb targets.
The plan, Defensor told a Press briefing, involved the use of "truck bombs" to destroy big buildings, like malls and even the US embassy in Manila. The truck bombs would be detonated through a cellular phone, Defensor added. During interrogation, he admitted that a team from Mindanao has started eyeing potential targets in the capital, including the US embassy and shopping malls.
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