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JI, Abu Sayyaf gearing up for suicide attacks
A radical organisation of Christian converts to Islam with close links to the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group has emerged in the Philippines, raising fears of a new cycle of terrorist attacks, possibly suicide bombings.The most senior Philippine security official sounded the alert as the Government set up a taskforce to investigate intelligence that Jemaah Islamiah and Abu Sayyaf are recruiting suicide bombers in the country's south. The new intelligence suggests the two terrorist groups are also recruiting disaffected members of another group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which is involved in peace negotiations with the national government. "Abu Sayyaf has succeeded in networking itself with Jemaah Islamiah and even al-Qaeda," said Norberto Gonzales, national security adviser to President Gloria Arroyo. "Rajah Sulaiman group is an organisation of Christian converts that has established links to Abu Sayyaf [and] its operation is under the control of Abu Sayyaf." Suicide bombings had been used by Jemaah Islamiah but were rare for Filipino terrorist groups, he said. "In the case of the converts, we are looking at this seriously. Martyrdom is very strong in the Catholic faith," he said, speaking of potential suicide bomber recruits. Abu Sayyaf appeared focused on the cleansing of infidels, and there "will be new attempts at conversion". The Rajas Sulaiman Group claimed responsibility for bombing the SuperFerry 14 in Manila Harbour on February 26 last year, killing more than 100 people. The group member Redondo Cain Delloso is in jail awaiting trial for the bombing. Mr Gonzales told the Herald the role of Filipino terrorists had historically been to provide training venues, not to export terrorists. But recent intelligence on marine terrorism from those in custody suggests this may be changing. It claims Jemaah Islamiah and Abu Sayyaf members are being trained in scuba diving in preparation for attacks on ships. Mr Gonzales said fewer than 10 people were understood to be involved in the plot. "So far, all the operations we have uncovered were done by very small cells. "In the past we always thought bombings were connected to some of the things we did domestically, but we are now looking at an international extension, at a new global phenomenon." Posted by: Dan Darling 2005-06-17 |
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