Philippines on the Hunt for Two Top Southeast Asia Jihadists

The Straits Times

08 August 2014

Philippine security forces say they have expanded their manhunt for one of the world’s most wanted terrorists to include his Singaporean counterpart, also a top jihadist believed to have been killed in an airstrike in 2012.

Lieutenant-Colonel Ramon Zagala told The Straits Times in a text message yesterday that police and military operations to capture Zulkifli Hir, a master bomb maker of South-east Asia terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah, have been expanded to include Singaporean Abdullah Ali alias Muawiyah.

“Operations are ongoing, and we will get them. We will catch them sooner or later,” said Lt-Col Zagala, the military’s spokesman.

Zulkifli, who also uses the name Manwar, and Muawiyah have been described by terrorism expert Rohan Gunaratna as the “two most important international terrorists currently operating in South-east Asia”.

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