Police recovered bomb components inside the suspect's house in Zamboanga City. Contributed photo
A suspected Abu Sayyaf bandit was nabbed in Sitio Asinan in the village of Kasanyangan in Zamboanga City Friday morning.
Police identified the bandit as Benwagas Salapuddin, also known as Nidz Ahamad and Midel Isnaji, said to be a follower of the late Abu Sayyaf sub-commander Muamar Askali in Sulu.
Police Lt. Col. Edilberto Alvarez of the Zamboanga City Police Office said Salapuddin has standing arrest warrants for double murder, multiple frustrated murder, and multiple attempted murder in relation to the January 2015 bombing near the Zamboanga City bus terminal.
The attack killed one and wounded around 50 others.
The bomb, an improvised explosive device, was planted in a red car parked along the road near a bar and just across the bus terminal.
The car was intentionally set on fire by the suspects before the bomb went off.
The loud blast happened a few minutes after firefighters arrived in the area. It tore through some nearby business establishments, wounding a number of workers and passersby.
Alvarez said Salapuddin was one of the suspects in the planning and execution of the attack.
Police also recovered bomb components inside Salapuddin’s house, including 2 plastic bottles of ammonium nitrate, 1 detonator leg wire, toggle switch, batteries and pyrotechnic powder.
However, Alvarez said they are still investigating if the suspect is planning to mount another attack in the city with the bomb components found in his house.
The Jolo, Sulu native has been in the city for more than a year now working as a security guard in one of the public schools, police said.
Authorities said a tactical interrogation is necessary before Salapuddin will be presented to court and eventually turned over to the Zamboanga City Reformatory Center.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.