Al-Qaida-linked terrorist believed killed (MANILA, Philippines)

Associated Press ^ | Oct. 12, 2003, 12:33PM | no byline

[weegee]

MANILA, Philippines -- An escaped key member of an al-Qaida-linked terror group was believed to have been killed today in a shootout with Philippine troops and police, the military said.

Fathur Al-Ghozi, the top bomb-maker for the southeast Asian group Jemaah Islamiya, became one of Asia's most-wanted men after escaping from Manila police headquarters in July. He had been serving 12 years for illegally possessing explosives.

Al-Ghozi -- a confessed member of Jemaah Islamiyah -- was believed to have died around 8 p.m. today in Pigkawayan town, in North Catabato province, in a shootout with military and police, Army Maj. Gen. Generoso Senga said.

The body was being identified, but the military was confident it was al-Ghozi.

The operation was led by the Presidential Anti-crime and Emergency Response (PACER) team. "This operation has been going on for a long time now, but it looks like PACER got him," Senga said. "The body is being verified. It's better to be sure."

Other officials would not confirm the report but said President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was expected to make an announcement Monday.

Al-Ghozi has admitted involvement in a series of bombings in December 2000 in Manila that killed 22 people and injured more than 100 others.

His apparent killing came on the anniversary of the nightclub bombings on the Indonesian island of Bali, blamed on Jemaah Islamiya. The group also was blamed for the terror blast at the Marriott Hotel in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, in August.

His escape was a major embarrassment for President Arroyo, coming while Australian Prime Minister John Howard was visiting to discuss counterterrorism cooperation.

Officials had expressed concerns that the chance of a terror attack was higher with al-Ghozi at large, and President Bush is to arrive in the Philippines for an eight-hour visit next Saturday.

Al-Ghozi slipped out of a police headquarters compound with Omar Opik Lasal and Abdulmukim Edris, two suspected members of the brutal Abu Sayyaf group, also linked with al-Qaida.

Lasal was arrested Friday elsewhere in the southern Philippines. Edris was killed in August after he allegedly tried to grab the gun of a soldier shortly after he was nabbed at a roadblock.

[herkbird]

Step by step, slowwwwwwly I turn, NIAGRA FALLS, another ones gone!

[Support Free Republic]

A Recall AND a Fundraiser? I'm toast.

Let's get this over with FAST. Please contribute!

[judicial meanz]

My friggin heart bleeds........

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

I hope he suffered before he died.

[Ben Hecks]

This is very good news - Al-Ghozi was a big player. Let's hope he had materials in his possession that will lead the Philippine authorities to other terrorists.

[aposiopetic]

Pigkawayan town

just too ironic

[aposiopetic]

An escaped key member of an al-Qaida-linked terror group was believed to have been killed today in a shootout with Philippine troops and police, the military said.

. . .

Al-Ghozi slipped out of a police headquarters compound with Omar Opik Lasal and Abdulmukim Edris, two suspected members of the brutal Abu Sayyaf group, also linked with al-Qaida.

Lasal was arrested Friday elsewhere in the southern Philippines.

Maybe somebody did a little talking over the weekend?

[Faraday]

Counter-terror forces should be aware that many of these countries do not have or employ the death penalty. Also, prison officials are easily bribed to "look the other way." Therefore, extreme measures while hunting down these monsters should be employed. "Nuke 'em from orbit. It's the only way to be sure."

[Dog]

Bagged and tagged another one..

[Angelus Errare]

I skeptical on this one until I see a body.

Al-Ghozi has already been captured or killed twice since his great escape. The Filippinos even had a corpse a week or two ago that turned out to be that of an Abu Sayyaf grunt. I don't think that it's deliberate, just a matter of incompetence.

[DoctorMichael]

And-another-one-bites-the-dust Bump.

[Chu Gary]

"Fathur Al-Ghozi, the top bomb-maker .."

Couldn't happen to a finer Mother...umm, make that Father.

[Coop]

I'm skeptical on this one until I see a body.

Let me make a few calls and see if we can get a body part shipped to you. Any preferences? :-)