[BenarNews] Four Abu Sayyaf militants were arrested Thursday in connection with a series of attacks in the southern Philippines, as authorities charged six other suspected rebels, including a Swedish national, for alleged terrorism-related offenses after catching them in the region earlier this week.The four suspects apprehended in Zamboanga City were identified as Aljiver Habibula, Omar Julaspih, Rody Marail, and Nash Amik. “They are members of the Abu Sayyaf Group Urban Terrorist Group operating in Sulu, Basilan and Zamboanga City,”, said Col. Thomas Joseph Martir, the local police commander.
While carrying out the arrests police recovered bomb-making components, communication devices, electronic parts and ammonium nitrate.
Three days before Thursday’s arrests, police and military elements caught Swedish man Hassan Akgun and five Filipinos during a raid in General Santos, another city in the Philippine south.
Charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives were filed against Akgun, although authorities had not yet established a link between the Abu Sayyaf and his group of suspected militants. Philippine National Police spokesman Brig. General Bernard Banac said, “He is really working with international terror groups. As to what really is his task, it is still under validation."
It is believed that Agkun was working with a group linked to IS, but it is too early to say whether he had any links with the new IS leader, Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan, said Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the Western Mindanao Command.