Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Britain: Terrorists in final stages of planning attacks in RP (1:40 p.m.)
MANILA -- The British government warned Tuesday that terrorists may be in the final stages of plotting more attacks after a series of bombings in the southern Philippines, and advised its citizens against traveling to the sprawling region.
Philippine police have blamed al-Qaida-linked militants belonging to the Indonesian-based Jemaah Islamiyah and the local Abu Sayyaf groups for three bombings in the south last week, including an Oct. 10 attack that killed six people and wounded 29 others during a town fiesta in North Cotabato province.
The US, British and Australian embassies had cautioned against travel to Mindanao shortly before the attacks, citing credible information that terrorists could strike.
Renewing their warning, British officials said more terror attacks could be staged soon.
"We believe that terrorists are in the final stages of planning further attacks," a British Embassy advisory said.
It added there was the risk of kidnappings of foreigners in resorts and terrorist attacks "to all forms of public transport: road, rail, sea and air."
Police in the capital went on alert Tuesday and President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo urged the public to help report suspicious people and activities.
"The authorities are on top of the situation but they need the active support of the community to safeguard the perimeters of peace and order," she said in a statement.
"The strong cooperation between vigilant public and our security forces will deny the terrorists any room to carry out sinister plots," she said. (AP) |
