Posted on 03/14/2005 10:59:20 PM PST by nickcarraway
THREE top leaders of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf militant group were among 21 prisoners shot dead by Philippine police as they stormed a maximum-security jail to end a day-old revolt.
Manila police chief Avelino Razon named the Abu Sayyaf leaders as Galib Andang, alias 'Commander Robot', Alhamser Limbong, alias 'Commander Kosovo' and Nadjmi Sabdulla, alias 'Commander Global'. Mr Razon refused to name the other dead prisoners, adding that police recovered eight firearms from the rioters.
Six policemen were wounded in the operation, he said.
Interior Secretary Angelo Reyes said police regained control of the prison building about an hour after starting the assault.
Troops outside fired tear gas as teams of police commandos scaled the walls of the four-storey detention centre and overpowered the militants.
Television reports said 300 policemen had stormed the building, where more than 400 prisoners, including 129 suspected Islamic militants, were detained.
Advertisement: Police said a core group of 10 suspected Abu Sayyaf members had been holding out since killing three guards in an escape attempt yesterday.
Talks with the group broke down late yesterday.
Several loud blasts and gunfire were heard around the police detention centre in a Manila suburb shortly after the expiry of an ultimatum issued by Mr Reyes to the militants.
Tear gas still shrouded the building as television showed hundreds of prisoners milling around on the top floor.
Limbong, who was accused of beheading an American hostage after a mass kidnapping from a Philippine beach resort in 2001, was believed to be the ringleader of the revolt.
He had also been charged with carrying out an Abu Sayyaf bomb attack on a ferry near Manila last year. At least 116 people died in the attack.
Andang and Sabdula were accused of leading the kidnapping of 21 people from Malaysia's Sipadan island in 2000.
Excellent...Most excellent!
Glad they got some of the terrorists and took back the prison.
Good read , thanks !
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