Hanoi (VNA) – Malaysia’s police on January 23 arrested four people, includingthree foreigners, who have connections with a branch in southern Philippines ofthe self-claimed Islamic State terrorist group.
Inspector-General Khalid Abu Bakar said in an announcementthat the branch operates outside Philippines’ Mindanao province and is led byMahmud Ahmad, a former university lecturer.
MahmudAhmad is also known as a Malaysian member of the IS.
Accordingto Khalid, the branch previously planned to use Sabah state in eastern Malaysiaas the transit point for new recruits in Southeast Asia and South Asia who wantto join the IS in the Philippines.
Oneof the four arrested suspects is a Filipino man who was instructed to recruitnew members from Bangladesh, Malaysia and Indonesia as well as among Islamic Rohingyaethnics in Myanmar and arrange for them to travel to Mindanao.-VNA
