Malaysia captures eight Abu Sayyaf militants with help from the Philippines
- The militants were arrested in Sabah state, where they fled in March because of military assaults on their bases in the southern Philippine province of Sulu
- Philippine military officials said it was ‘highly possible’ that the group was planning to carry out kidnappings for ransom in Malaysia
Malaysian authorities have captured eight suspected Abu Sayyaf militants who may have been planning ransom kidnappings in the country, said Philippine military officials who provided information that helped lead to the arrests.
The Filipino militants were arrested on Saturday in Sabah state on Borneo island, where they fled in March because of military assaults on their jungle bases in the southern Philippine province of Sulu, Philippine marine brigade commander Colonel Hernanie Songano said.
“It is highly possible that they intend to make Sabah their staging point for their kidnapping activities,” Songano said in a statement. “They know that it will be very difficult for them to launch atrocities in Sulu due to the persistent military operations in the area.”
The suspected militants may have been helping arrange the travel of foreign militants to the southern Philippines, Songano said, without providing further details.
