From Rappler (Dec 18): 'Slain bomber more valuable alive than dead'
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte commended the local police force and other state security forces which failed a bombing attempt and killed a suspected Malaysian member of the Jemaah Islamiyah. However, Duterte said Mohd Noor Fikrie Bin Abd Kahar could have been a source of vital information if he was only disabled during the raid. "Fikrie has more value if he is alive. Even if his wife is presently detained, the information that we could extract from Fikrie would be more valuable," Duterte said. DCPO chief Senior Superintendent Ronald dela Rosa explained that the incident happened quickly that they opted to take down the bomber after he threatened to detonate the improvised explosive device.
Fikrie was shot dead while attempting to elude a raid by a composite team of local police force and intelligence agents on Friday evening, December 14. His Filipina wife, Anabelle Nieva Lee, was caught and is presently undergoing tactical interrogations in the headquarters of the Davao City Police Office. Duterte commented that even the operation was successful there are still many assessment points that must be considered if there would be future terrorist attacks in the city. "The response of our local police force was very quick. It was very quick that they forgot to clear the hotel lobby and the streets near the hotel," Duterte said.
Double full alert
Dela Rosa declared that the local police force is presently on double full alert for possible retaliation of Jemaah Islamiyah. "Some police forces deployed in search and rescue operations in Compostela Valley will be pulled out to secure the city during the holidays. Additional K9 units will also be assigned in various checkpoints in the city," dela Rosa said Duterte ordered that profiling must be also strengthened in the city. "People manning the checkpoints must know who to look for," Duterte said. "We must not stop. We should be vigilant everyday," Duterte added.
http://www.rappler.com/nation/18148-slain-bomber-more-valuable-alive-than-dead
Leave it to a civilian, far out of harm's way at the time, to criticise those who had to face a bomber who had his finger on the detonator of a live bomb. Take him prisoner vs risk the deaths of innocent by standers. No brainer. Take him out. Also, concerning clearing the hotel lobby, etc. I don't believe that the police anticipated that he would come to the lobby with a bomb in a backpack. I think they expected a quick, uneventful arrest. It would appear that Fikre's bomb threat quickly complicated the situation.
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