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» JenL_2 - Philippines Bombing Arrest

In response to message posted by Kirk:

Two bombing suspects arrested - from 23 MSNBC.com:

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Philippine bomb suspects warn of more attacks

Two men charged with attacks that killed 15 civilians

MSNBC NEWS SERVICES

MANILA, Philippines, April 23 — Two men arrested for a deadly series of weekend bombings in the southern Philippines claimed it was part of a “destabilization” campaign that includes targets in the capital, police said Tuesday.

THE SUSPECTS, Bobby Sabilo and Mulikin Adam Ambi, were arrested in a pre-dawn raid Monday in a village outside General Santos, the southern city where three bombs exploded in public places Sunday, killing 15 people and injuring 71.

“From our tactical interrogation ... (the bombing campaign) is not just General Santos, this is throughout the Philippines,” Bartoleme Baluyot, police chief for the central Mindanao region, said by telephone. “Their plan is destabilization, create disturbances.”

City police chief George Aquisap said the men claimed to have received training in the Middle East. Both were charged Tuesday with illegal weapons possession, and police said they were preparing murder charges.

“Our investigation showed that they were trained in making bombs in Malaysia by Malaysian and other foreign trainers. There were six other Filipino Muslims with them during the training and we are now looking for them,” Baluyot said.

Baluyot said witnesses reported seeing them leave a bag in a motorcycle taxi outside a department store, where the bomb that caused all the fatalities exploded. It killed 14 people Sunday, and another victim died Monday night.

Thirty-four people injured in the three blasts remained hospitalized.

THREAT TAKEN SERIOUSLY

Authorities were taking the threat of further bombings seriously. “We don’t know why they want to create disturbances,” Baluyot said. “They said they have people in Manila... so we cannot just laugh that off.”

On Monday, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo sought to calm the nation by ordering a crackdown on so-called terrorists that included a $100,000 reward, a nationwide security alert and plans for curfews and checkpoints where needed.

Police check for evidence after the bomb explosion in front of a department store in General Santos.

A rash of warnings via cell phone text messages — one of the main forms of communication in the Philippines — focused on Manila as the next target. Similar text messages circulated in General Santos just before Sunday’s bombings.

The latest attacks were the latest in a long series of strikes on civilian targets in the country’s troubled south, the bloodiest of which occurred in February 2000 when bombs planted on a ferry by another Islamic rebel group killed 45 people.

A wave of bombings in Manila in December that year killed 14 and wounded over 100.

ORGANIZERS UNCLEAR

Despite a claim of responsibility, police said they were uncertain who organized the bombings, which took place in an area where relatives sometimes belong to different anti-government groups and support each other.

A man who claimed he was from the Muslim extremist group Abu Sayyaf told a radio station an hour before the first blast that 18 bombs had been planted around General Santos. He called back Monday to warn of more attacks in retaliation for a U.S.-backed offensive against the al-Qaida-linked group on Basilan island, also in the southern Philippines.

Sabilo and Ambi were initially described as belonging to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, or MILF. But Baluyot said Tuesday they were former members of another Muslim separatist group with a very similar name, the Moro National Liberation Front, or MNLF.

“It is possible they joined forces with the Abu Sayyaf, which did not have a camp (in General Santos) before,” he said.

Authorities have said armed groups in the south, where Muslim rebels have been fighting to carve out a separate state for years, occasionally forge temporary alliances.

The MNLF signed a peace agreement with the government in 1996. The MILF agreed to a cease-fire last year but has occasionally clashed with government forces despite the truce.

U.S. HELPING FIGHT

The government has vowed to wipe out the Abu Sayyaf, calling it a group of bandits, and U.S. troops are training Philippine soldiers in an effort to help them defeat the guerrillas, who have held missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham of Wichita, Kan. and a Philippine nurse hostage on Basilan for nearly 11 months.

About 600 more U.S. troops landed in Manila on board the amphibious assault ship USS Fort McHenry on Tuesday to take part in the joint military exercises.

That brought to about 3,200 the number of American soldiers now in the Philippines for training with local troops.

About 1,000 of them are holding counter-terrorism exercises on Basilan, the stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf, and in nearby Zamboanga city.

The rest are deployed on the main island of Luzon in the north of the country for exercises designed to help Philippine forces repulse foreign aggression and “state-sponsored terrorism,” a U.S. military statement said.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

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.....Jen

-- posted by JenL_2

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» JenL_2 - Re: Philippines - Fathur Rohman Al-Ghozi

In response to message posted by JenL_2:

from the 4/19 MSNBC.com article above:

SUSPECTS RELEASED

In a separate move, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ordered the release of two Indonesians suspected of being connected with al-Ghozi.

The move was made in response to a request by Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri, Acting Press Secretary Silvestre Afable told a news conference.

He said Arroyo acted upon the recommendation of Justice Secretary Hernando Perez, who earlier said the case against the two should be dismissed because of a lack of evidence.

The two Indonesians were among three arrested at Manila international airport last month after components of explosives were allegedly found in their bags.

In a court hearing in Manila on Friday, the defense lawyer of the three said they were businessmen. Afable said the third Indonesian was still being investigated.

Hmmmm - I was wondering why the heck the Philippines was releasing suspected Indonesian terrorists just because Indonesia requested it? Sure they were just businessmen and just happened to have components of explosives in their bags??

Well here's the editorial from 4/24 The Philippine Star:

A worrisome release

Here we are going all-out in our campaign against terrorism, calling in US troops to help fight Islamic extremists, even considering the declaration of a state of emergency in at least one city. The commander-in-chief, meanwhile, is releasing suspected terrorists arrested and detained for illegal possession of explosives.

Last week President Arroyo ordered the release of Indonesians Abdul Jamal Balfas, 37, and Tamsil Linrung, 40, upon the request of their government officials led by Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri. The two men were arrested last month at the NAIA together with another Indonesian, Agus Dwikarma, 37, as they were about to board a plane bound for Germany. Police said two oval-shaped plastic explosives and five detonation cords were found in the men’s carry-on luggage.

The men claimed the explosives were planted and that they visited General Santos City the day before on legitimate business. Linrung, a businessman who once served as treasurer of the National Mandate Party in Indonesia, claimed his arrest was politically motivated to discredit his partymate’s presidential candidate, Amien Rais.

With the track record of our law enforcers, the story about the planted evidence is plausible. But with the track record of Indonesia in getting Islamic militants, the release of the two is also worrisome. Megawati’s administration has handled radical Muslim groups with kid gloves, afraid that the groups will stir social unrest and turn against her. Such a tolerant atmosphere has turned Indonesia into a haven for Islamic militants.

Jemaah Islamiah, an umbrella organization of Muslim radicals with links to al-Qaeda operating in Southeast Asia, is believed headed by a 36-year-old Indonesian cleric, Riduan Isamuddin or Hambali. Isamuddin’s alleged second in command, another preacher named Abubakar Ba’asyir who is wanted by police in Malaysia and Singapore for terrorism, lives in the Indonesian town of Solo, untouched by authorities. Isamuddin himself has disappeared.

Jemaah Islamiah’s suspected intelligence officer, Indonesian Fathur Rohman al-Ghozi, pleaded guilty last week to illegal possession of a ton of explosive materials and will serve up to 12 years in the Philippines’ national penitentiary. Abdul Jamal Balfas, one of the two Indonesians ordered freed by President Arroyo, is himself a coordinator for a militant Muslim group. Philippine police held on to the third suspect, Dwikarma.

Were the pieces of evidence against the two Indonesians planted? Then those who did it should be investigated and punished. Or was the government merely trying to promote harmonious ties with Indonesia? The next time there is a similar request from Jakarta, Malacañang should first ask itself if promoting bilateral ties would not compromise the campaign against terror.

....Jen

-- posted by JenL_2

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» JenL_2 - Malaysia arrests more Terror Suspects

More on Malaysia's battle against terrorism from 4/20 Asia Times:

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Malaysia tightens security screws

By Anil Netto

PENANG, Malaysia - Just about a month before Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad is due to visit the United States at the invitation of President George W Bush, 14 more alleged Muslim extremists have been detained under Malaysia's harsh Internal Security Act (ISA), which allows indefinite detention without trial.

The 14 are said to be linked to a group initially referred to by the authorities as the Malaysian Mujahideen Group and later as the Malaysian Militant Group (KMM). The group, the authorities say, is part of a regional network aimed at overthrowing Southeast Asian governments and replace them with Islamic states.

The latest arrests on Wednesday and Thursday bring to 62 the number of people detained for alleged involvement in the KMM since last May. None of them has been brought to trial.

The foreign media latched on to these latest arrests as a further sign of the Malaysian government's determination to rein in militants. A CNN website report on the latest arrests was headlined "Malaysian police arrest al-Qaeda-linked suspects".

A front-page report in Malaysia's top-selling English-language daily, The Star, however quoted police chief Norian Mai as saying, "We do not have any proof that these people are linked directly to al-Qaeda leaders. The only one we know who is linked is Hambali." Norian said the KMM allegedly took orders from Abu Bakar Ba'asyir (now in Indonesia) and Hambali.

The latest arrests are a severe blow to human-rights campaigners who are in the midst of a hunger strike in protest against the draconian ISA. The protest was launched on April 10 by the Abolish ISA Movement (GMI), a network of 82 non-governmental organizations, to mark the first anniversary of the detentions of 10 pro-reform activists. Six of these detainees are still being held at the Kamunting Detention Camp north of Kuala Lumpur.

The latest round of arrests also shows the inability of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) to tackle the ISA, although its government-appointed commissioners have gone on record to say they are opposed to detention without trial. The two-year terms of the inaugural commissioners expire this month and three of the more courageous commissioners are likely to be dropped.

But Suhakam announced this week that it will hold an inquiry soon to probe the grievances of ISA detainees and their families. Since Suhakam was formed, the number of ISA detainees has climbed steadily, especially since last April. More than 100 persons are now being held without trial under the ISA.

The latest arrests are likely to please Washington, which has made a stunning turnaround from its earlier position of condemning ISA arrests on human-rights grounds. Some would call it "Democracy When It Suits" (the title of a Radio Netherlands report on the failed coup attempt in Venezuela and Washington's eagerness to proclaim an end to the reign of the democratically elected president). Others would lament that human rights have taken a back seat in the war on terror. So even as the number of those detained without trial climbs, Mahathir is now perceived as a "moderate" Islamic leader whom Washington can talk to.

Among the 14 in the latest round of arrests is Sejahratul Dursina, the wife of Yazid Sufaat, the man who is alleged to have met two of the terrorists said to be involved in the September 11 attacks. She is the first woman to be detained since last April.

Foreign journalists, often citing "Malaysian officials", have reported that two al-Qaeda members who were at Yazid's house were later among the hijackers in the September 11 attacks.

A report in the independent news website Malaysiakini said that Yazid had explained to an ISA review panel this month that he gave permission to Persatuan Al-Ehsan, a registered Islamic organization of which he was a member, to use his condominium for its activities.

"I do not know anything about the allegation that al-Qaeda members were staying in my condominium, and I demand proof from the police," he said in his affidavit made available to Malaysiakini. "I did bump into two Arabs, whose legs were amputated, at the condominium's swimming pool when I took my children there. The Arabs told me they came here to look for artificial legs. The conversation lasted for less than five minutes. I left and never saw them again," he added.

Yazid lashed out at the "media frenzy", particularly in the foreign press, which kept quoting "Malaysian officials" to associate him with the al-Qaeda and September 11. "The government should investigate who these 'officials' are, as they have tarnished the good name of the country," he said.

The 14 detained in the latest round of arrests have assorted backgrounds: company directors (two), technicians (two), taxi drivers (three), an accounts assistant, a waterworks meter reader, a businessman, a teacher, a chicken seller, an ice-cream vendor and a welder.

Norian said one of the suspects had a diary with him that had details on making explosives, several plans of action and guerrilla warfare tactics. He said the authorities had also identified more than 100 alleged KMM members who were still at large. Three university lecturers high on the wanted list had fled, he added.

On the arrest of Yazid's wife, Norian said she had been detained for allegedly hiring Zacarias Moussaoui, the Frenchman linked to al-Qaeda. Moussaoui was arrested by US agents and is now on trial there.

Rights activists, meanwhile, continue to urge the government to bring all the suspects to court so that they can have a chance to defend themselves and engage lawyers of their choice.

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.....Jen

-- posted by JenL_2

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» BPyles - Germany arrests Palestinians

German court questions suspected Palestinian terrorists

By The Associated Press April, 24 2002, Jerusalem Post

BERLIN - Islamic militants suspected of planning a terrorist attack in Germany were questioned today by a judge at the country's highest criminal court, who will decide whether investigators have enough evidence to keep them in custody.

Police raided apartments across Germany on Tuesday, arresting 11 members of a radical Palestinian group that prosecutors said were "on the brink of attacks," possibly on Israeli or US targets here, prosecutors said.

The federal persecutor's office said in a statement that several of the suspects were to be
questioned at the Federal Court of Justice today, but a decision on whether they could detained further wasn't expected before late evening.

According to German law, suspects can only be detained for 24 hours before facing a judge who determines whether they can be held for the duration of the investigation.

Federal prosecutor Kay Nehm was to give details at a news conference Thursday.

Prosecutors said the men belonged to a German cell of a radical Palestinian group called al-Tawhid and that they have long been under observation. They also are believed to have provided false travel documents, collected donations and helped Islamic fighters leave Afghanistan.

Nehm identified the spiritual leader of the loosely coordinated group as Abu Qutadah,
a Muslim cleric suspected of links to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida organization. A Jordanian of
Palestinian descent, Abu Qutadah was convicted in absentia in 2000 by a military court in Jordan on charges of conspiring to attack US and Israeli targets.

British anti-terrorism experts said in February that Abu Qutadah had disappeared.

Officials say there are no apparent links between the Palestinian cell and the terror group based in Hamburg which helped carry out the September 11 attacks, nor with the suspected terrorist attack at a Tunisian synagogue earlier this month that killed 16 people, most of them German tourists.

German prosecutors are investigating whether suspects in Germany were involved in the Tunisian blast.

-- posted by BPyles

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» JenL_2 - Re: Germany arrests Palestinians

In response to message posted by BPyles:

Nehm identified the spiritual leader of the loosely coordinated group as Abu Qutadah, a Muslim cleric suspected of links to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida organization. A Jordanian of Palestinian descent, Abu Qutadah was convicted in absentia in 2000 by a military court in Jordan on charges of conspiring to attack US and Israeli targets.

British anti-terrorism experts said in February that Abu Qutadah had disappeared.

Yeah - the Brits, after supporting convicted terrorist, Abu Qutadah, with welfare, let him slip through their fingers....see post above:

Radical cleric suspected of ties to al-Qaida has eluded British police, experts say

U.K., Canada & the U.S - prior to 9/11 we've all been naive and lax on terrorists - but hopefully we're awake now......Jen

-- posted by JenL_2

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» BPyles - Germany arrests

Jen: Is this a first for any of the PLO, etc., being arrested outside of Israel? Can't remember reading of any before. Wonder if it has occured to them they will not have as much world-wide support outside of Israel? That "freedom fighter, resistance fighters" is going to fall on deaf ears anywhere outside of Arab countries.

-- posted by BPyles

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» mitelo - Re: Germany arrests

In response to message posted by BPyles:

Betty,

I know some Black September terrorists were once held in Germany for the Munich Olympic games massacre of Israeli athletes in 1972.

They were later released in an exchange deal with terrorists.

30 years since then, and the world expects restraint?

-- posted by mitelo

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» mitelo -

-- posted by mitelo

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» JenL_2 - Re: Germany arrests

In response to message posted by BPyles:

Betty - not sure about PLO connections but several of the terrorists we've been tracking have been Palestinians or Palestinian descent, including, I think, some of the 9/11 terrorists. I bet Steven will have a better answer......Jen

-- posted by JenL_2

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» BPyles - Dutch arrest suspects

Appears there are suspects under every rock in every country!
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Wednesday, 24 April, 2002, 15:47 GMT 16:47 UK, BBC
Dutch police arrest terror suspects

The Dutch raids follow the arrest of Abu Talha in Madrid Dutch police have arrested
four men suspected of belonging to an Algerian Islamic extremist group, following several raids around the country. The suspects are thought to be members of the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat which is blamed for carrying out violent attacks in Algeria and elsewhere.

"They are accused of providing logistical support for the group, including funds and false identity papers," Wim de Bruin, spokesman for the prosecutor's office, told BBC News Online.

The arrests come as Spain said it had detained a second suspected al-Qaeda member,
a day after the man believed to be the network's chief financier, Muhammad Galeb Kalaje Zouaydi, also known as Abu Talha, was arrested in Madrid.

Ten people were arrested in the Dutch raids, in Eindhoven, Bergen-op-Zoom and Groningen.

Five were released, while one was handed over to immigration authorities for allegedly residing illegally in the Netherlands. The other four face charges of participation in a criminal organisation.

Several fake passports were found during search carried out this morning, said Mr de Bruin.

On Tuesday, 11 people were arrested in raids in Germany.

German prosecutors are reported to have started interrogating some of them, who
are a suspected members of the German cell of the Sunni Palestinian 'al-Tawhid' movement,
a fundamentalist group supporting Islamic "jihad", or "holy war".

-- posted by BPyles

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