Swedish, 3 others tagged in Sultan Kudarat bombing nabbed

MANILA, Philippines — An alleged Swedish militant and three other suspected members of the Dawlah Islamiyah were arrested in Sultan Kudarat on Monday.

Maj. Arvin Encinas, spokesman for the Western Mindanao Command said Swedish Hassan Akgun was arrested with Abedin, Normia and Norshiya, all surnamed Camsa, in Sitio Naka, Barangay Kapaya, Bagumbayan.

Encinas said the suspects were tagged in the bombing at the Isulan public market on Sept. 7 that left eight civilians wounded.

Dawlah Islamiyah militants are with a faction of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) led by Abu Toraife.

Encinas said an M16 rifle with magazine, which contained 27 bullets, a caliber .45 pistol with 11 bullets, a caliber .38 revolver, a shotgun, an improvised explosive device, a backpack, which contained an Islamic State flag and two USBs were among those recovered from the suspects.

The suspects and the seized items were brought to the Sultan Kudarat police office for documentation and filing of appropriate charges.

Authorities are investigating how Akgun, who denied involvement with any terrorist group in Mindanao, managed to enter the country and join the BIFF.

Meanwhile, in Shariff Saidona, Maguindanao, three BIFF bandits were wounded in a military offensive against those who attacked members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Monday.

Two members of the MILF’s Task Force Itihad, who are helping the military maintain law and order in areas targeted by BIFF bandits, were wounded in the gunfight in Barangay Dasawao. – With John Unson