[Manila Times] Four suspected Abu Sayyaf bomb-makers were identified as those behind the separate explosions at the Sulu Provincial Police Office Headquarter and a mosque inside the camp in Jolo on Friday night that wounded at least 14 civilians and police personnel.Police identified the four suspects as Muammar Askali, Edimar Isnain, Nidil Bali and Alkam Hadjail, Abu Sayyaf militants in Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi provinces of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Investigation has indicated that Askali and Isnain planted a black bag containing improvised explosive devices in a sari-sari variety store located inside a gate of the police headquarters, while Bali, with his companion Hadjail, threw a grenade near the mosque.
Askali and Isnain were among Abu Sayyaf militants tagged in various kidnappings in Basulta including the Germans Stefan Viktor Okonek and Henrike Dielen and two teachers in Zamboanga Sibugay, Reynadit Silvano and Russel Bagonoc.
Sr. Supt. Abraham Orbita, provincial director of Sulu police, believes that the twin blasts on Friday were a retaliatory attack over the arrest of other Abu Sayyaf militants.