Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Ten Malaysian fishermen werekidnapped by suspected Islamic State-linked militants off Borneo island on June18 and were taken to the southern Philippines, local police said.
The gunmen attacked two boats off eastern Sabah state in theMalaysian part of Borneo. Ten people onboard were held hostage, while six otherescaped.
Malaysia's official news agency Bernama cited the police assaying that Philippine kidnap-for-ransom gang Abu Sayyaf is thought to beresponsible, and the fishermen were taken to islands in the south of thecountry.
Abu Sayyaf has operated in the southern Philippines since1990s and is notorious for kidnappings of foreigners and bombings.
There has been a spate of kidnappings in the waters betweenthe southern Philippines and the Malaysian part of Borneo in recent years.
In 2017, several Southeast Asian countries started navalpatrols in the area to prevent kidnappings.-VNA
Malaysia intensifies security following terrorist kidnapping plans
Security at Malaysia’s Eastern Sabah Safety Zone (Esszone) has been intensified following information on possible kidnapping plans by terror group Abu Sayyaf.