Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Police Capture Abu Sayyaf Militant Implicated in Red Cross Kidnappings

The Philippine National Police captured a suspected member of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group on Tuesday (October 4), allegedly involved in the kidnapping of three international Red Cross workers on a southern island two years ago. Adzhar Patta Mawalil was arrested on Jolo Island by security forces.

COMMENT: Filipino, Italian and Swiss members of International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in January 2009. The three were later freed after the payment of a large ransom. Their kidnapping was allegedly masterminded by Albader Parad who was accused of beheading other high-profile abductions. Government troops killed Parad in a raid on his hideout last year.