‘Madrid-level’ terror attack foiled, says Philippines

THE Philippine president said yesterday authorities had arrested four militants and seized 80 pounds of explosives, averting a “Madrid-level” terrorist attack.

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who faces a tough campaign for re-election May 10, said the explosives would have been used to bomb trains and shopping malls in the capital Manila.

“We have prevented a Madrid-level attack in the metropolis,” Ms Arroyo said.

The March 11 bombings in Madrid left 191 people dead. A Morocco-based terrorist cell with possible links to Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaida network are the main focus of suspicion in the bombings.

Ms Arroyo said one of the men arrested in the Philippines claimed responsibility for a February 27 explosion and fire aboard a passenger ferry that killed more than 100 people. Officials have not concluded what caused the disaster, and Ms Arroyo said the confession will be part of an ongoing investigation into the incident.

The suspected militants, members of Abu Sayyaf, were implicated in an October 2002 bombing in the southern city of Zamboanga that killed an American serviceman, the beheading of American hostage Guillermo Sobero the same year and a string of kidnappings, the president said.

Police officials identified the suspects as Alhamser Manatad Limbong, also known as Kosovo, and Redendo Cain Dellosa.

Also arrested were Radzmar Sangkula Jul, also known as Michael Saavendra, and Abdulrasid Lim.

Defence Secretary Eduardo Ermita said all the suspects trained with the al-Qaida-linked regional terror group Jemaah Islamiyah on Mindanao sometime before 1999 or 2000. One underwent similar training last year.

Ms Arroyo said the evidence against the suspects was “strong and airtight”.

“Let no one and no nation underestimate our determination to finish off the (Jemaah Islamiyah) and al-Qaida cells in our country,” Ms Arroyo said.