| Authorities have arrested a Palestinian, whom they believe had trained
al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf guerrillas in the past, upon his return to the Philippines for a possible terror mission.
Fawaz Zi Ajjur, a suspected al-Qaida operative, was arrested Saturday in the southern city of Zamboanga after a
circuitous journey that took him to Russia, Thailand and Malaysia before arriving in the Philippines, authorities said.
Ajjur did not have a visa and was taken into custody by immigration agents at the Zamboanga airport, Immigration
Commissioner Alipio Fernandez Jr. said.
He was later identified by two captured Abu Sayyaf guerrillas as one of the foreign militants who trained them in
bomb-making near Patikul town on the southern island of Jolo island a few years ago, an official said on condition of anonymity. Ajjur
strongly denied the allegation and any terrorism links, the official said.
GMA congratulates police and military officials
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who flew to Zamboanga, congratulated officials for the arrest as Ajjur was presented
to the media at a Zamboanga air base .
"This is a very important blow against terrorism," Arroyo said, shaking the hands of military and police
officials.
Regional Police Director Vidal Querol said Ajjur was allegedly involved in unspecified terror plots. Authorities said
they suspect Ajjur returned to the Philippines to further train local insurgents or to take part in an attack.
A circuitous route from Russia to Zamboanga baffles authorities
Ajjur's route on the way here confused investigators. He started in Russia, flew to Thailand and took a train to
Malaysia, where he shuttled between two areas before boarding a plane to Zamboanga, authorities said.
Philippine authorities have been on the alert for the possible entry of foreign Islamic militants who could join the
Abu Sayyaf in staging local bombing attacks.
Terrorists' "Easter plot" to avenge Bicutan mutiny fatalities foiled by authorities
The Abu Sayyaf group has threatened attacks to avenge the deaths of commanders killed in a botched jailbreak two weeks
ago. Intelligence officials say one plan by the Abu Sayyaf, together with the Southeast Asian militant group Jemaah Islamiyah and local
Muslim converts, was to stage two separate car bomb attacks during the recent Easter holidays.
Troops seized nearly 1,300 pounds of explosives last week from a suburban Manila home based on information from a
recently captured suspected Filipino militant.
International terrorist links
The Abu Sayyaf, which is on a U.S. terror list, has been blamed for kidnappings for ransom and other deadly attacks,
including a ferry bombing that killed 116 people last year in the country's worst-ever terror attack.
Its ranks have been gutted by U.S.-backed offensives, but it has reportedly bolstered its loose alliance with Jemaah
Islamiyah and local armed groups to widen its reach. |
TERRORIST ALERT!!!
