Home>News Center>World
         
 

Philippines arrests more militants, tightens security
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-03-31 15:34

Philippine police arrested two more members of an Islamic militant cell suspected of planning bomb attacks in Manila, as the government tightened security in the capital on Wednesday ahead of the Catholic Holy Week.

A police official said the two militants were caught on Sunday while meeting police agents posing as Islamic radicals in Manila. Their capture had not been announced earlier due to a delay in obtaining arrest warrants.

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo gestures while addressing the country's prosecutors at their convention in Manila, Philippines, March 30, 2004. Earlier, Arroyo announced the arrests of four members of the extremist Abu Sayyaf Group averting terrorist bombings in metropolitan Manila on the scale of the Madrid attacks. [AP]
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, a firm ally in the U.S.-led war on terror, said on Tuesday her government had foiled a "Madrid-level" terror attack on shops and trains in Manila by arresting four suspected Islamic militants and seizing a large amount of explosives.

The suspected plot by members of the Abu Sayyaf group comes ahead of May 10 presidential elections, in which Arroyo is seeking a new term, and three weeks after bomb attacks on Madrid commuter trains killed 191 people.

"The anti-terrorism task force is already tightening up security measures in the metropolis. Our cooperation and vigilance will stop this threat," Arroyo said in a statement.

Officials have not released specific evidence of the arrested men's apparent plan to attack shops and trains.

Analysts have expressed surprise that the Abu Sayyaf, considered a spent force after a U.S.-backed military campaign in its southern Philippine base, was able to plan such an attack.

Police and army say they have been on the highest level of alert for several days because of multiple threats, including the Abu Sayyaf arrests and the 35th anniversary of the founding of the communist rebel New People's Army, which has threatened massive attacks.

A strike by jeepney drivers and the annual surge of air, train and bus travel ahead of Holy Week in the mostly Catholic country are also cause for higher vigilance, the army and police said. The red alert situation would remain until at least Easter. Holy Week begins next Wednesday.

"Police in Manila are on heightened alert because of multiple threats -- the NPA, Abu Sayyaf and the Lenten season, when many people are traveling," Philippine National Police chief superintendent Joel Goltiao told Reuters.

He said all SWAT teams were out on the streets. Police on motorbikes, with a second officer carrying an M-16 semi-automatic rifle on the back of the bike, are a common sight in Manila.

"All army units in Metro Manila have been on red alert since Saturday, and will remain on red alert in the coming days," army spokesman Daniel Lucero said.

Even without a red alert, Manila is one of the most heavily guarded cities in Southeast Asia.

Security guards inspect visitors' bags at the entrance of every major building in the Makati business district as well as at the entrance of many shopping malls.

A spokesman for Philippines Airlines said the Abu Sayyaf arrests had not had a negative impact on travel so far, and that most of its flights were full because of the Holy Week season.

A Singapore travel agent told Reuters that tourist bookings for the Philippines had not been affected in recent days.

 
  Today's Top News     Top World News
 

Visa application rules altered for US visitors

 

   
 

Training abroad gets stricter supervision

 

   
 

65 children poisoned after school breakfast

 

   
 

Farmers go looking for love in cities

 

   
 

Nation continues to fight US rights motion

 

   
 

3,798 punished over SARS negligence

 

   
  Philippines arrests more militants, tightens security
   
  Israeli soldiers remove West Bank outpost
   
  Man blows himself up in Bolivia congress
   
  Clashes bring Uzbekistan death toll to 42
   
  US Muslim Army chaplain appeals reprimand
   
  Philippines foils a major attack
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
  Related Stories  
   
Philippines foils a major attack
   
Actor loses lead as Philippine ruling looms-poll
   
Philippine ferry fire kills 2; scores missing
  News Talk  
  The evil root of all instability in the world today  
Advertisement
         
主站蜘蛛池模板: 豪妇荡乳1一5白玉兰免费下载| jizz在线免费观看| 欧美影院在线观看| 午夜精品视频任你躁| 日本xxxⅹ色视频在线观看网站| 女人与大拘交口述| 久久人人爽爽爽人久久久| 欧美成人看片黄a免费看| 免费高清理伦片在线观看| 韩国公和熄三级在线观看| 国产精品极品美女自在线观看| 一本一本久久a久久综合精品 | 国产三级三级三级三级| 一个色中文字幕| 天下第一社区视频welcome| 中文字幕在线观看日韩| 日韩美一区二区三区| 亚洲日韩一区二区一无码| 真实处破疼哭视频免费看| 国产主播福利在线观看| 日本黄色小视频在线观看| 国产高清视频在线播放www色| 一区二区乱子伦在线播放| 日本一卡二卡≡卡四卡精品| 亚洲av永久无码精品三区在线4| 污污视频在线免费看| 免费观看a级毛片| 国产网站麻豆精品视频| 国产AV无码专区亚洲AV手机麻豆| 三级国产女主播在线观看| 好男人视频在线观看免费看片 | 黄色免费短视频| 国产精品视频一区二区三区不卡| www久久精品| 手机福利视频一区二区| 久久精品视频网站| 欧美午夜春性猛交xxxx| 亚洲精品福利网站| 精品一区二区三区免费毛片| 国产主播在线一区| 激情综合五月天|