Abu Sayyaf Group is linked to a string of abductions of sailors in the region (Source: maritime-executive.com) Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Three Indonesian sailors were kidnapped by gunmen in Malaysia’s offshore waters where Abu Sayyaf insurgents have been accused of conducting several similar incident, said local police on July 10.
Commander of Malaysia’s marine police force Abdul Rahim Abdullah confirmed that the kidnapping happened on midnight July 9 in waters off the east coast of Sabah on Borneo island, which is not very far from southern Philippines.
However, authorities have not confirmed the involvement of Abu Sayyaf in the case.
Since the beginning of this year, Abu Sayyaf has kidnapped 14 Indonesian sailors, holding them in their stronghold in the southern Philippines. They were later freed but there was no information on whether a ransom was paid.
Founded in early 1990s, the group has over 400 Islamist militants, operating mainly in the southern Philippines with kidnappings for ransom, bombing and hostage executions.-VNA
