Philippines confirms killing of IS bombing mastermind
Confirmation comes from militant who surrendered recently.
LANAO DEL SUR:The Armed Forces of the Philippines have confirmed the killing during a January operation of an alleged local Islamic State mastermind of last December's Catholic Mass bombing in the southern province of Lanao del Sur.
The AFP said in a statement Sunday (Feb. 12) described alleged bombing mastermind, Khadafi Mimbesa also known as Engineer, as an “amir” or groupleader who was killed in the Jan. 25-26, 2024 military operation.
The operation, headed by the 103rd Infantry Brigade under Brig. Gen. Yegor Rey Barroquillo Jr, resulted in the neutralisation of nine local terrorists and members of the Maute Group who were the alleged perpetrators of the Dec. 3, 2023 bombing of the Catholic Mass held inside a gym at Mindanao State University (MSU) in Marawi City that killed four people and injured dozens of others.
Statements from a surrendered terrorist, identified as Khatab, a high-value individual in the Maute Group who surrendered to the 2nd Mechanized Brigade on Feb. 11, corroborated the initial information on the demise of the Maute Group amir and the mastermind behind the MSU bombing, said the AFP.
Mimbesa was among nine militants killed in the Jan. 25-26 clashes.
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The recovery of nine high-powered firearms, one bandolier, four Baofeng radios, and one smartphone was also reported after the series of gunfights.
The AFP did not say how many members of the Maute Group remained and if they were being pursued but earlier official statements said several more terrorists apart from the nine were being sought and the group that clashed with government forces on Jan 25-26 was led by a Nasser Daud, whose current status, dead or alive, SEA MILITANCY is currently trying to establish.
An earlier report named eight of the nine slain Maute Group members as Saumay Saiden alias Ustadz Omar/Abu Omar/Saumay, Salman alias Mikdad/Miqdad, Abdul Hadi alias Hodi Imam/Abday'n, Lacson Timbang alias Abdullah, King Fahad Dalig Untie alias Muhajeer/Abu Khalid, Asnawi Mael alias Hamza, Mauwiyah (an alias) and Mohaimen (an alias). Apparently, the ninth slain terrorist was Mimbesa.
AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., in Sunday's statement, praised the troops for their successful operation and called on other members of the group to surrender as the military will continue ensuring peace and stability in Mindanao and the rest of the country.
The Maute Group and the Abu Sayyaf Group laid siege to Marawi City in 2017 before government forces liberated the city after a five-month urban battle that saw over 1,200 people, mostly militants, killed.
Ed.: An earlier version of this report said Mimbesa and a group leader were confirmed killed. This article has been corrected.