PHILIPPINES : Pakistani linked to JI arrested

COTABATO — Authorities in Mindanao have arrested a Pakistani with alleged links to a Southeast Asian extremist group for making bombs, it was announced yesterday.

Muhammand Alpariz was arrested at his apartment in Shariff Kabunsuan province by joint police and military operatives on Tuesday, local 6th Infantry Division spokesman Lt. Col. Julieto Ando said.

Found in his possession were "two 60-millimeter mortar shells rigged to improvised explosives devices" and two howitzer shells ready to be attached to similar bombs, said Southern Mindanao police head Chief Superintendent Pedro Tango.

"He did not resist arrest. He is said to be a member of Jemaah Islamiyah (JI)," Mr. Ando said without elaborating, referring to a Southeast Asian extremist network with ties to al Qaeda.

Tacurong City police chief Senior Superintendent Joel Lim-son said the suspect had been under surveillance for months before he was arrested.

"Although there was no passport recovered from him, he is a known Pakistani national," Mr. Limson said.

It would seem that no corner of the globe is immune from Pakistani linked Islamic Jihadi terrorism.

In supporting global Islamic Jihad, Pakistani origin individuals it seems are entirely non discriminatory.

They are equally at home in blowing up neighbouring Indian's as in blowing up subway trains in the UK or attempting to blow up Filipinos at the other end of the world.

More details UPDATE:

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=421234

“Suspected JI seeks DOJ investigation of charges”
By Mike Frialde Updated December 05, 2008 12:00 AM

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “A Bangladesh national who was arrested...”

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “At about 2 p.m. Tuesday, agents of the Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group arrested Alfariz at his cell phone repair stall in Barangay Tapayan, Municipality of Sultan Mastura. The arresting team was composed of SPO2 Marcial Gabunada, PO3 Rosil Ellevera and PO3 Nelson Hernandez and explosives expert SPO1 Joel Garcia. According to the CIDG, among the items seized from Alfariz was a backpack, a rocket propelled grenade shell with explosive filler with one non-electric blastic cap inserted; an RPG shell with fuse assembly, an alarm clock, soldering lead, 17 cut electrical wires; rolled magnetic wire, an AA battery; two pieces of 81 mm mortar with fuse assembly; eight feet of detonating cord, five cellular phones, two blasting caps, a personal computer, three SIM cards and P 3,710 in cash.

In a statement, Justice Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor, the spokesman of the Anti-Terrorism Council confirmed Alfariz’s links to the JI. “A follow-up investigation is still underway as Alfariz is also suspected of supporting the MILF and Al Khobar group by allegedly providing bombs for their planned terrorist attacks. He was also reportedly linked to the bus bombing that took place in Digos City in July last year,” Blancaflor said.”

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Army intelligence sources confirmed that Alfariz has links with the rogue MILF band under Ameril Umbra Kato.

It was Alfariz and his JI cohorts that provided Umbra and his men the technology to make improvised explosive devices from mortar rounds or anti-tank rockets, the sources added.”

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