MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Police in the Philippines say they have captured a militant with an al-Qaida-linked movement in an operation at a Manila shopping center.
They say they police intelligence unit arrested Asdatul Sahirun on Sunday at a shopping mall in the capital’s Malate tourist district. Sahirun is suspected member of the Philippines’ Abu Sayyaf extremist movement.
Authorities have been on alert for possible attacks following Osama bin Laden’s killing in Pakistan.
Sahirun has been implicated in nine murder cases in southern Basilan province, where Abu Sayyaf operates.
Abu Sayyaf is notorious for bombings, kidnappings and beheadings. It has been blacklisted by Washington as a terrorist organization. U.S.-backed offensives have hindered its ability to launch attacks.
