Slain foreign terrorist identified as ‘Arab’ bomber

From Malaya Business Insight (Mar 18, 2019): Slain foreign terrorist identified as ‘Arab’ bomber

THE military yesterday said it has established the identity of the “Arab-looking” man who was killed last week during the bombardment and ground assault of a camp of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in Shariff Saydona Mustapha town in Maguindanao.

The BIFF camp in Shariff Saydona Mustapha has been seized by government forces. The military is preparing another operation targeting another lair where most of the dislodged BIFF members are now staying.

Maj. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the 6th Infantry Division, said a “major encounter” is imminent but declined to the name the new military target. He just said it is in the BIFF’s known bailiwick areas in Shariff Aguak, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Mamasapano, and Shariff Saydona Mustapha towns, all in Maguindanao.

On the foreign terrorist, Sobejana said the fatality was identified through the data base of the intelligence community as Abdul Rahman, who he said is an Arab bomber.

Sobejana could not immediately say when Rahman went to Maguindanao. “What’s definite is he is associated with the group of Toraype,” he said, referring to BIFF leader Esmael Abdulmalik alias Abu Toraype.

Citing initial information, Sobejana said Rahman had been training BIFF members.
“He (Rahman) brought technologies from where he trained. He is responsible for the training of local terrorists,” said Sobejana.

Rahman’s body was among three recovered at the BIFF camp which government troops have seized

Seventeen other terrorists are believed to have been killed in the operation, including Singaporean bomber Muhamad Ali Abdul Rahiman alias Mauwiyah.

The military assault started on Monday last week, with aerial bombardment and artillery fire. Ground troops were later inserted for ground assault, leading to series of clashes.

The operation was launched by the 6th Infantry Division after receiving reports that about 120 BIFF men, led by Toraype, were consolidating at the camp in Barangay Inaladan and plotting attacks on unspecified targets.

 https://malaya.com.ph/business-news/news/slain-foreign-terrorist-identified-%E2%80%98arab%E2%80%99-bomber