AUTHORITIES arrested on Monday afternoon, July 1, an alleged member of the Al Qaeda terror group, a police official said on Tuesday.
Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Director Amador Corpus identified the arrested suspect as Cholo Abdi Abdullah, a native of Kenya who arrived in the Philippines in 2017.
Abdullah was enrolled in an aviation school in Zambales and allegedly showed interest in aircraft hijacking.
Corpus said they sought a search warrant against the suspect after receiving information from the foreign intelligence community identifying Abdullah as a "very dangerous person."
"He pledged allegiance to the Al Qaeda group since 2012 and matagal na po syang hinahanap and it so happened he was last located in the Philippines that's why the foreign counterparts coordinated with the PNP and AFP for the immediate arrest of this Kenyan national, " said Corpus.
"This was a priority operation because it is an urgent operation considering that he was described by foreign counterparts as very dangerous that's why nag-double time 'yung mga tropa in monitoring, " he added.
A search warrant was served on Abdullah around 3:30 p.m. on July 1 in Rasca Hotel in Iba, Zambales.
Abdullah was arrested after police allegedly recovered from him a 9mm pistol, magazine, and ammunition, an improvised explosive device, a hand grenade and other bomb making components.
The search warrant was issued by Mariveles, Bataan Regional Trial Court for illegal possession of firearms and explosives.
Corpus said they were coordinating with their military and foreign counterparts to look into the activities of Abdullah and detect any plot to launch a terrorist attack in the country.
the past incidents which Abdullah took part as as well on any possible plot for future attack of the terrorist group particularly in the country. (SunStar Philippines)