Vital Perspective

In the name of Islam

Pakistan:

"The boy with the knife looks barely 12. In a high-pitched voice, he denounces the bound, blindfolded man before him as an American spy. Then he hacks off the captive’s head to cries of “God is great!” and hoists it in triumph by the hair."

Turkey:

"Three Protestants murdered at a Christian publishing house in Malatya, Turkey, were tortured for three hours before their assailants slit their throats [...]  Ugur Yuksel, one of the three victims of the massacre at the Zirve (summit) publishing house, which distributed Christian literature [...] “had scores of knife cuts on his thighs, his testicles, his rectum, and his back [...] His fingers were sliced to the bone."

Philippines:

"Muslim extremists decapitated seven men they were holding hostage on the southern Philippine island of Jolo and sent the heads in sacks to two army detachments, the military said on Thursday." More here.

Thailand:

"Suspected Muslim insurgents shot and killed two Buddhist laborers and then beheaded one of them as deadly violence and scattered bombings continued [...] In separate violence, three suspected insurgents stormed a construction site late Tuesday in the Sisakorn district of Narathiwat province and fatally shot two Buddhist workers [...] After shooting their victims, the attackers beheaded one of the corpses before fleeing."

Saudi Arabia:

"A court in 'Ar'ar in northern Saudi Arabia has sentenced a foreign Arab national to death for having desecrated the Koran. "

Filipino Court Freezes Account of Saudi Charity Suspected of Serving Terrorists

A Philippine court has frozen the bank account of a Saudi Arabian charity suspected of being a conduit for terrorist funds, court officials said yesterday. Anti-money laundering officials suspect the International Islamic Relief Organisation (IRRO) is financing the activities of local affiliates of al-Qaeda, including Abu Sayyaf.

The Anti-Money Laundering Council, which is led by the central bank, described IRRO as one of Saudi Arabia's largest charitable organisations. The court freeze was sought by the U.S., which has accused IRRO of funding terrorist attacks in different countries including the September 11 attacks.

Philippines: 200 Kilos of French Ammonium Nitrate for Terror Groups Seized

Philippine authorities detained three men linked to the smuggling Tuesday of 200 kilos of high-grade French ammonium nitrate, used by local terrorists in the manufacture of homemade bombs. Police, backed by soldiers, intercepted the shipment from a Filipino ferry, that came from Jolo Island, where troops are battling members of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group.

"We have intelligence report about this shipment and security forces had been alerted about the arrival of the ship. We are still investigating whether this cargo is owned by the Abu Sayyaf or Jemaah Islamiya. We also have intelligence reports that a shipment of ammunition is also on its way to Zamboanga from Jolo," said Maj. Frank Clavecillas, the port police commander.

The ammonium nitrate, marked "Made in France," were in eight bags hidden under fish crates. It is the first time authorities have seized ammonium nitrate that was manufactured in France and smuggled into Jolo. Most of the previous shipments that have been intercepted were manufactured in Malaysia and Indonesia.

Abu Sayyaf Terrorist Involved in Kidnappings Captured by Phillipine Forces

Phillipine troops captured Nadzmir Abduraji Amad, an Abu Sayyaf terrorist who allegedly took part in the kidnapping of more than a dozen foreigners at a Malaysia beach resort in 2000, in a raid in Jolo. Amad had been in hiding there since the military began its offensive against the Abu Sayyaf two months ago.

The terrorists are on the run from a military offensive involving 6,000 troops on Jolo, where officials believe Abu Sayyaf is also protecting Jemaah Islamiah bombers Dulmatin and Umar Patek. The two are wanted for the October 2002 nightclub bombings in Bali, which killed more than 200 people.

Jungle Gun Battle Leaves Undetermined Number of Abu Sayyaf Terrorists Dead

An undetermined number of Abu Sayyaf terrorists were killed or wounded when fighting broke out anew over the weekend between government forces and the extremist group on the island of Sulu in southern Philippines.

Quoting the Western Min­danao Command, the state-run Philippines News Agency (PNA) said that the gun battle occurred in the jungles of Patikul town some 1,000 kilometers southwest of Manila.

Maj. Gen. Eugenio Cedo, WestMincom chief, said the gun battle lasted for almost two hours before the Abu Sayyaf terrorists retreated, dragging along their dead or wounded. The PNA said that elements of the Special Forces Battalion in the Patikul area have engaged some 30 heavily armed Abu Sayyaf terrorists under Radulan Sahiron, while the terrorist group was conducting combat operations in the hinterlands of Patikul.

Philippine Security Forces Uncover Bomb-Making Factory Run by Abu Sayyaf, JI

According to Philippine Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz Jr., local terrorists are now capable of making sophisticated bombs similar to those used by the al-Qaeda. He said security forces had thwarted a "potentially lethal" terror campaign when they captured a bomb-making factory this week in a camp run by the Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiyah in the jungles of Sulu.

The troops seized several sophisticated homemade explosives with "close similarities" to those used in the Middle East and Afghanistan. One bomb, already armed, had electronic anti-tamper sensors and was loaded with hundreds of 8 mm. ball bearings "designed to kill anyone within a 150-meter kill zone," Cruz said. Another device in a plastic bottle showed their capability to produce liquid bombs.

Last month, the military launched a U.S.-backed offensive targeting top Abu Sayyaf leaders, including Khadaffy Janjalani and two alleged members of Jemaah Islamiyah — Umar Patek and Dulmatin — who are believed to be hiding out with Moro rebels and are both wanted in the 2002 Bali bombings.

Philippine Police Intercept Huge Ammonium Nitrate Shipment for Abu Sayyaf

Philippine police have intercepted a 2,200 lb. shipment of chemicals believed to be intended for bombing attacks by the al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf terrorists. The shipment was divided into 20 sacks and hidden in the hold of the MV Katrina, a ferry docked in the southern port city of Zamboanga from the nearby island of Jolo, an Abu Sayyaf stronghold, police said. Crewmen claimed the sacks contained dried fish.

Ammonium nitrate is a highly volatile chemical compound largely used in making fertilizer and is the main ingredient used by the Abu Sayyaf to produce powerful bombs, official said. Last month, 250 lbs. of ammonium nitrate were found on Jolo.

Maj. Frank Clavencillas, chief of port police, said there had been fears that the Abu Sayyaf could stage bombings on October 12, when the largely Catholic enclave of Zamboanga is to mark an annual festival. Six of the crewmen including the captain of the vessel were taken to Zamboanga City police station for questioning. The ship's cargo checker was also detained at the port police office.

Police Capture Top Terrorist From Abu Sayyaf in Jungles of Southern Philippines

Police in the Philippines said today that one of the most wanted members of the terror organization Abu Sayyaf was arrested on September 14 in the jungles of Basilan Island in the southern Philippines. Abu Sayyaf ("father of the sword") was founded in mid-1980s to propagate Islam through jihad.

The terrorist was identified as Angging Yunos (aka Abu Yunos). He was wanted by police for a series of kidnappings, serious illegal detention and multiple murder cases. Yunos was reportedly involved in the attack and burning of Ipil town in Zamboanga del Sur in April 1995 that left 52 people killed and hundreds of buildings burned. He was also allegedly involved in kidnapping of 20 people from the Dos Palmas resort in Palawan in 2001. Regional police intelligence said Yunos also participated in the abduction of 15 workers of the Golden Harvest Plantation in 2001.

The Philippine military has also been hunting down Abu Sayyaf top leader Khaddafy Janjalani, who is hiding on the island of Sulu with 200 fully armed Abu Sayyaf men and two members of the Indonesian terrorist group Jemaah Islamihya who are linked with the 2002 Bali bombing in which 202 people were killed.

Police also arrested two Muslim separatist rebels suspected of involvement in a car bombing three months ago that targeted a powerful politician and killed seven people. The two suspects were arrested late Friday while recuperating in a hospital after a bomb they were allegedly rigging detonated accidentally. One lost a leg and another was wounded by shrapnel in the blast.