Philippine police on patrol in Manila (Photo: EPA/VNA) Manila (VNA) – Philippine police said onNovember 17 that they foiled a plot to bomb a Manila shopping mall as USPresident Donald Trump and other world leaders arrived in the city for the 31st ASEAN Summit.
The authorities said three alleged members of the AbuSayyaf militant group were arrested on November 10, a day before the leaders’arrival. Pistols and grenades were seized from the suspects.
The alleged militants, two aged 19 and another aged 24,lived in a northern Manila slum.
Local police said they monitored one suspect'sFacebook posts, in which he hinted at a plan to launch terror attacks in Manilawith photos of firearms, explosive devices, and pictures of targets, includinga mall and a park in the capital. They did not say when the suspects wereplanning to carry out the attacks.
However, police added they had asked prosecutors tofile charges against the three for having unlicensed handguns, not in relationto a bomb plot.
Philippine Police Chief Ronald Dela Rosa toldreporters that security officers were checking whether the suspects were linkedto previous attacks.
The high-profile event concluded on November 14without any security incidents and there was no suggestion world leaders werein danger.-VNA
VNA
