Philippine army thwart IS bombing attack in central Mindanao
Two terrorists who were spotted assembling presumably bombs flee.
MAGUINDANAO DEL SUR: The Philippine army has thwarted an attempt by pro-Islamic State terrorists to bomb selected targets in Central Mindanao.
The foiled attack was intended to create an impression that the group's capability to commit acts of terror remains intact despite the surrender of hundreds of its members since 2022, said the army’s 6th Infantry Division (6ID) in a statement on Thursday (Sept. 12)
Major General Antonio Nafarrete, the 6ID commander, said in the statement that personnel from the 1st Brigade Combat Team discovered homemade bombs inside a hut in Tee village, Datu Salibo town, Maguindanao del Sur province, on Wednesday (Sept. 11).
This discovery followed reports from villagers who had seen two alleged Dawlah Islamiyah members inside the hut seemingly fabricating something.
Dawlah Islamiyah is the name used for local terror groups aligned with the Middle Eastern terror group, the Islamic State or IS.
Villagers confirmed that the two individuals fled immediately upon noticing soldiers and Moro community leaders approaching from two directions, leaving behind their improvised explosive devices (IEDs), said 6ID.
PhilStar reported that local executives and village leaders had informed the police and army officials in Datu Salibo and nearby towns that the two men, identified as Samir and Bukhari, were Dawlah Islamiyah members skilled in assembling IEDs using ammonium nitrate as blasting charges or incendiary powders extracted from unexploded cannon and mortar shells collected from areas of conflict.
Senior members of the Islamic religious community in Maguindanao del Sur had previously warned Nafarrete and his subordinate commanders about a plot by the remaining Dawlah Islamiyah members to detonate bombs along highways.
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This was seen as an attempt to counter the growing public perception that the group has been significantly weakened by the surrender of 316 members over the past 37 months, PhilStar reported further.
Nafarrete hailed the operating troops, saying: “The quick response of the government troops against people with evil intentions is very important in preventing their plan to sow terrorism. It is very important in maintaining peace and tranquility in our communities.”
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