 Military and police units are hot on the trail of six members of the Jemaah Islamiah and the Abu Sayyaf Group who are reportedly planning to carry out a âgrand planâ to launch massive attacks in key cities across the country, particularly in Metro Manila and Mindanao. Showing pictures of the six suspects, a highly placed source told The Manila Times that these were the personalities expected to enforce the four-pronged attack of the terrorist groups. The modes of attack include kidnapping, suicide bombings, simultaneous bombings using of car bombs and suicidal attacks. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said four are members of the Abu Sayyaf while the rest are Indonesians who are members of the Jemaah Islamiah. | That's a fairly ambitious plan for only six guys, unless they are the brains/money men controlling the cannon fodder/muscle. |
The Times learned that a planned attack during the Kadayawan Festival in Davao City last week was foiled because the suspects were unable to obtain local support for their operations. The suspects were also identified before they could carry out their plan. âThey had the firepower and the capability to carry out the attack even without local support. What they did not have was a means to extricate the Mastermind⢠and the Handler® themselves from the scene after they carry it out,â the source said. He added the suspects âcouldnât even buy support,â noting that they were âshort on funds.â | Looky here. All the springs just popped out of my sympathy meter. |
The source explained that last December military and police teams arrested three JI members and their Batik Islam guide who had âa substantial amount of foreign currencyâ and a large volume of explosive ingredients. | I'm not familiar with Batik Islam. |
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front has evicted the terrorist groups from the Liguasan Marsh in Maguindanao. A document obtained by The Times showed the JI calling the MILF âa prickly thornâ to its operations because of the alleged âfalling outâ and a plan to transfer its base of operations from MILF-controlled territories. | But my surprise meter just twitched. A turf war between MILF and JI. This could get messy. |
The document also stated that the MILF was planning to âsellâ them (JI and ASG) out. | Speaking of selling, I'm taking bids for the popcorn concession and skybox naming rights... |
Hard-pressed for funds and âmoralâ support, the Jemaah Islamiah and the Abu Sayyaf were reduced to âbeggingâ for financial backing from foreign sources, specifically from Middle Eastern financiers. The source said this was the reason why the two groups have been sending out proposals and seeking funds for their plan of mass destruction. | Color me skeptical, but I hardly think either JI or Sayyaf is strapped for cash. Though it would make me incredibly happy if it turns out to be true. To my untrained eye, this looks like disinformation from the terroristas or the Philippine gov't, or both. |
The August 10 Zamboanga twin blasts had a dual purposeâto ease the pressure on Abu leader Khaddafy Janjalani and several members of his group, who were trapped in Maguindanao and to prove to their potential financiers that they are âdetermined and planning to carry out war in cities in Mindanao and other places.â Meanwhile the discovery by members of the Explosives and Ordnance Division, K-9 units and the Kidapawan City Special Weapons and Tactics of an improvised explosive device at a Land Transportation Office branch in Barangay Poblacion, Kabacan, Cotabato, is closely being investigated in connection with the âgrand plan.â The device, composed of a live World War II-era 81 mm mortar with fuse rigged with a nine-volt battery, a blasting cap and an electric timer, was placed inside a Nokia 3315 box.| Any of you ordnance/arty folks have an opinion on the boom-worthiness of WWII mortars? |
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