2 Sayyaf bombers killed in Zamboanga

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Two suspected Abu Sayyaf bombers were killed in an encounter with police forces off the coast of Sacol Island and Barangay Taluksangay in this city yesterday.

Maritime police personnel recovered the bodies of Radi Tahirin and Hassan Alimin. Another suspect, Abdilla Aspalin, who was believed wounded, reportedly fell into the water and has yet to be found.

The suspects were on a motorized boat when they fired at personnel of the Philippine National Police Regional Intelligence Unit, 9th Maritime Group and Special Action Force commandos who intercepted them at around 6:45 a.m.

The suspects were reportedly with the group of Abdulman Sarapuddin Tula and Kadija Lutian Sadji, said to have links with the Islamic State, who were arrested in Barangay Campo Islam last month.

Police said two caliber .45 pistols and bomb materials were recovered from the fatalities.