Two wounded suspected Abu Sayyaf prisoners walk after police stormed a maximum-security jail in a hail of gunfire Tuesday. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) Posted on 03/15/2005 7:14:52 AM PST by freepatriot32
10:02 AM EST Mar 15 Two wounded suspected Abu Sayyaf prisoners walk after police stormed a maximum-security jail in a hail of gunfire Tuesday. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
MANILA, Philippines (AP) - The Philippines braced for retaliatory attacks after some of the country's most hardened terror suspects were killed in a failed prison uprising that left 28 people dead, most of them inmates killed in a barrage of bullets as hundreds of police stormed the maximum security facility.
The dead included three leaders and a fourth member of the al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf, a group notorious for deadly attacks and ransom kidnappings in which hostages have been beheaded.
The crisis began with an Abu Sayyaf suspect snatching a guard's weapon and quickly turned into a prolonged standoff with at least 10 of the group's top suspects leading the rebellious inmates. Three guards and 24 inmates died - 22 in Tuesday's assault to take back the prison. A police officer also was killed, his body discovered under debris hours after the operation ended.
Sweat-soaked police marksmen filed out of the building after the assault to the applause of bystanders, escorting prisoners stripped to their underwear and with hands clasped behind their heads.
"The terrorists got what was coming to them," Ignacio Bunye, press secretary for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, said in a statement. "The crisis team gave them all the chances to peacefully surrender."
The raid began after authorities gave the inmates a 15-minute deadline to surrender - an ultimatum that came after hours of fruitless negotiations. Six officers were wounded in the assault, which saw some detainees scale down walls inside the compound as thick smoke billowed out.
The inmates had agreed to surrender after their failed jailbreak Monday, but the deal broke down when they demanded food first, prompting civilian negotiators to leave in frustration.
The bloody assault raised fears of retaliatory attacks. Even as Arroyo congratulated police, an Abu Sayyaf leader warned of repercussions.
"To you people, you don't have to bring the war to Mindanao," Abu Sulaiman told DZBB radio, referring to the Muslim homeland in the south where the military has launched offensives against militants. "We will bring it right into your doorstep."
The inmates had warned of bombings if there was an assault on the jail. No one doubted that the Abu Sayyaf has the means and willpower to carry them out.
"Of course that's our concern," national police chief Arturo Lomibao said. "We hope there's going to be no retaliatory strikes from our Muslim brothers because they know what happened here. We tried to resolve it peacefully."
Three leaders were among four Abu Sayyaf members killed: Alhamzer Manatad Limbong, known as Kosovo; Ghalib Andang, known as Commander Robot; and Nadzmie Sabtulah, alias Commander Global.
Limbong allegedly was involved in a mass kidnapping in 2001-02 that left several hostages - including two Americans - dead, and a ferry bombing a year ago that killed more than 100 people in the Philippines' worst terrorist attack. Others were accused of ransom kidnappings and other criminal acts.
Officials said police found eight handguns and two unexploded grenades in the jail after the assault on Camp Bagong Diwa in suburban Manila. The maximum security prison has about 425 inmates, including 129 suspected members and leaders of Abu Sayyaf.
At least three guards and two Abu Sayyaf members were killed in the initial escape attempt, police said.
The militants generated little sympathy from terrorism-weary Filipinos.
"Throughout the day, the nation had to listen to the demands of people who had just killed three jail guards and were on trial for multiple murder and kidnapping," The Philippine Star daily wrote in an editorial. "And we wonder why the country is turning into a terrorist paradise."
But in the restive south, where insurgencies for Muslim self-rule have been raging for the last three decades, the prison assault was bound to be seen as heavy-handed.
The government has frequently described Abu Sayyaf as a spent force and its leaders on the run from U.S.-backed military assaults. But recently, officials said about 300 members have teamed up with local bandits and militants for training, shelter and sharing of resources and combatants, indicating the fight is far from over.
Several Abu Sayyaf suspects have escaped from Philippine jails, which are often dilapidated, with inadequate and sometimes corrupt staff.
State prosecutor Peter Medalle, who handles Abu Sayyaf cases, said guards at Camp Bagong Diwa were tipped off about a possible prison break three weeks ago. "Apparently, our warnings were ignored," he said.
Well thats a good start i suppose theres still several thousand left to go though
Detainees with their hands behind their head march under escorts towards another building after the assault on the jail compound Tuesday, March 15, 2005 in suburban Taguig, south of Manila.
A lot of their top guys were whacked in this one, plus a few others have been killed off previously. The US specops guys who are doing training of the Philippine forces are doing a good job.
he pig, Alhamzer Manatad Limbong, known as Kosovo is dead!!!!
Still not enough. Kill them ALL!
Condolances to the guards families.
Good news indeed.
Sounds personal!
Since grenades aren't usually standard prison guard equipment, I'd say they had help from the outside.
|
|
 |
||
|
Philippine policemen leave a jail after storming it, in Manila March 15, 2005. Philippine police shot dead 17 prisoners as they stormed a jail in Manila on Tuesday to end a day-long stand-off with a group of Islamic militants who had snatched weapons from guards and killed three of them. REUTERS/Erik de Castro
|
|||
|
|
 |
||
|
A prison guard -- who was shot by Abu Sayyaf prisoners -- is evacuated from the Camp Bagong Diwa prison in Manila. Twenty-three people were killed when Philippine police stormed a maximum security prison to end a day-old revolt.(AFP/Joel Nito)
|
|||
|
|
|
||
|
A Philipino policeman carries a baby rescued from a jail at the end of a stand-off in Manila March 15,2005. Philippine police shot dead 22 prisoners as they stormed the Manila jail on Tuesday to end a 24-hour stand-off with a group of Islamic militant suspects holed up in the building. REUTERS/Erik de Castro |
|||
|
|
 |
||
|
Detainees cheer as a fire truck sprays water to lessen the effect of tear gas being fired by police following an assault Tuesday March 15, 2005 at a detention cell at Camp Bagong Diwa at suburban Taguig south of Manila, Philippines where Muslim extremist Abu Sayyaf were holed up in a failed jailbreak Monday. At least 16 people were killed both from police and the Abu Sayyaf, including its leaders Ghalib Andang, also known as Commander Robot and another known for his alias as Kosovo following the assault. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
|
|||
|
|
|
||
|
Philippine detainees hold a placard saying 'We are not Abu Sayyaf (rebels)' inside Manila's Camp Bagong Diwa March 14, 2005. Philippine police blocked food and water to a group of Islamic militants on Tuesday, hoping to force them out after talks to end a day-old stand-off at a detention centre in Manila broke down. REUTERS/Erik de Castro
I don't get it. In the middle of a stand-off they start doing the Conga dance? da-da-da-da-da-DA
|
|||
|
|
|
||
|
Philippine detainees form a human chain after a stand-off with police inside Manila's Camp Bagong Diwa March 15, 2005. Philippine police shot dead 22 prisoners as they storm a police detention centre on Tuesday to end a 24-hour stand-off with the group of Islamic militant suspects holed-up in the building. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco
|
|||
|
|
|
||
|
Philippine detainees form a human chain following the end of a stand-off with police inside Manila's Camp Bagong Diwa March 15, 2005. Philippine police shot dead 22 prisoners as they storm a police detention centre on Tuesday to end a 24-hour stand-off with the group of Islamic militant suspects holed-up in the building. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco |
|||
It looks like some of these prisoners eat pretty well in Phillipine jails.
Just kidding. Liberal pundits think terrorists are mythical monsters, rather than shitbags who die easily when you shoot them.
For every terrorist we kill, we have one dead terrorist.
A Philipino policeman carries a baby rescued from a jail at the end of a stand-off in Manila March 15,2005. Philippine police shot dead 22 prisoners as they stormed the Manila jail on Tuesday to end a 24-hour stand-off with a group of Islamic militant suspects holed up in the building. REUTERS/Erik de Castro How the hell did a baby get inside the prison to be taken hostage ?
visiting hours?
What's with that?
Americans are beaten up over being overweight?
Perhaps they need a "starvation" diet to keep them under control?
I'm guessing because of a wife or girlfriend was visiting a prisoner and brought in the baby.
BTTT!
He beheaded Americans.
If these vermin had been summarily executed there would have been no prison uprising. IMO, there should be an international agreement that all convicted terrorists are executed within 48 hours.
"For every terrorist we kill, we have one dead terrorist."
Amen.
They should make it national policy to bury every jihadi with his own pig.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
