|
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
200 kilos of bomb chemicals seized in Zamboanga
By Al Jacinto
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Police authorities seized 200 kilos of high-grade French ammonium nitrate, used by local terrorists in the manufacture of homemade bombs, being smuggled in the southern city of Zamboanga, officials said.
A government soldier was also shot in nearby Basilan province in a daring attack at a public market while the British government warned 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.
Policemen, backed by soldiers, intercepted the shipment from a Filipino ferry, MV Nickel Princely that came from the restive island of Jolo where troops are battling members of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group.
The chemicals, an ingredient in making homemade bombs, was placed inside eight bags hidden underneath fish crates on board a ferry from the restive island of Jolo.
"We have intelligence report about this shipment and security forces had been alerted about the arrival of the ship. We are still investigating whether the Abu Sayyaf or Jemaah Islamiya owns this cargo. We also have intelligence reports that a shipment of ammunition is also on its way to Zamboanga from Jolo," said Major Frank Clavecillas, the port police chief.
Police and military interrogators were questioning three men, a truck driver and two others, who claimed the cargo at the port. "We are still investigating them -- about the links to the chemical," said Inspector Abner Santos, of the regional maritime police chief.
The ammonium nitrate, marked "Made in France," were in eight bags hidden underneath fish crates. Soldiers were spotted searching the ship's cargo bay and had interviewed crewmembers and several passengers.
Most of the seized ammonium nitrate was manufacture in Malaysia and Indonesia. It was the first time for authorities to seize the smuggled chemicals from France.
Clavecillas said the amount of ammonium nitrate they seized was enough to flatten a small building.
Last month, Clavecilla's group also intercepted a ferry loaded with a ton of ammonium nitrate, allegedly owned by the Abu Sayyaf, in the port of Zamboanga.
The boat was held just minutes after it arrived from Jolo island. A ferry cargo inspector and four policemen assigned in Jolo were held for questioning in connection with the illegal cargo.
In nearby Basilan province, an unidentified gunman shot dead a government soldier and wounded another in a daring attack Tuesday at the busy market of Tipo-Tipo town.
"We have ordered troops to hunt down those responsible in the killing of the soldier and the wounding of another infantryman," Brigadier General Raymundo Ferrer, commander of the Army's 1st Infantry Division, said.
He said the two soldiers were buying provision when the gunman shot them in front of civilians at around 7.30 a.m. in Tipo-Tipo town. "We still don't know who was behind the attack. There is an investigation going on," he said.
Witnesses told the military that the gunman casually walked away after the shooting.
No individual or group claimed responsibility for the killing, but the town is a known lair of Abu Sayyaf and Moro Islamic Liberation Front. The slain soldier and his wounded companion were airlifted to a military hospital in Zamboanga City.
Meanwhile, British officials have issued a renewed warning to its citizens against traveling to southern Philippines as more terror attacks could be looming.
The US, British and Australian embassies had cautioned against travel to Mindanao shortly before the attacks, citing credible information that terrorists could strike.
Police have blamed al-Qaida-linked militants from the Indonesian-based Jemaah Islamiyah and the local Abu Sayyaf groups for three bombings in the south last week, including an October 10 attack that killed six people and wounded 29 others during a town fiesta in North Cotabato province.
"We believe that terrorists are in the final stages of planning further attacks," a British Embassy advisory said.
It cited possible kidnappings of foreigners in resorts and terrorist attacks against "all forms of public transport: road, rail, sea and air."
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo urged the public to report suspicious people and activities as police in the capital went on alert Tuesday.
"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," Arroyo said.
Authorities have placed Mindanao under "extreme critical alert" - the highest of a four-step public terror warning. (AP/Bong Garcia/Sunnex)
(October 18, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
Architect hikes bet to P1.5M for center's completion