Saturday, November 17, 2012

Alleged bomb plot

Philippines
Alleged bomb plot against urban centre highlights threat posed by militant activity in Basilan, south-western Mindanao
( dugaan bom terhadap ancaman pusat perkotaan yang ditimbulkan oleh aktivitas militan di Basilan, Mindano selatan-Barat )

An announcement by the police on 11 November stating that they had arrested three members of the militant Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), who were allegedly planning a bomb attack in an urban center, is a reminder of the credible risks posed by militant activity originating from the southern and western parts of Mindanao island, where the risks associated with travel are rated as HIGH.

The detention of the three suspects was announced by the police in the island province of Basilan, a traditional ASG stronghold. The police said they had also seized two motorcycles from the group – one of which was rigged with explosives – and small arms.

( sebuah pernyataan dari polisi pada tanggal 11 november yang menyatakan bahwa mereka telah menangkap tiga anggota dari militan Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), yang diduga sedang merencanakan serangan bom dipusat kota, merupakan sebuah peringatan dari resiko yg dpt dipercaya yang ditimbulkan oleh aktivitas militan yang berasal  dari bagian selatan dan barat pulau Mindanao, dimana resiko yg terkait dengan perjalanan dinila tinggi )

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 The urban center that the group had allegedly intended to target is presently unclear. Anti-terrorism operations have significantly diminished the capability of local militant groups such as ASG to operate outside Mindanao. However, ASG retains the capability to operate in Mindanao's urban areas. These locations are susceptible to low-level opportunistic attacks, and given that the explosive device was mounted on a motorbike and discovered in Basilan, it appears that a city on that island, or potentially Zamboanga City (Zamboanga peninsula, Mindanao) would be the most likely target. While the motorcycle-borne device appears to match ASG's tactic of using small-scale bombings to primarily target the homes and offices of wealthy businessmen (largely for extortion purposes), the organisation continues to espouse a radical Islamist ideology, and attacks against soft targets such as transport hubs, crowded shopping and entertainment venues, and Christian religious gatherings in urban areas of Mindanao cannot be entirely ruled out.
The arrest of two ASG militants in Zamboanga City in mid-October would seem to further support suggestions that the group intends to conduct attacks against public targets; unconfirmed reports suggested that the pair were planning to carry out an attack against civilian sites in the city during a local Catholic festival. As such, travellers in urban areas of Mindanao are reminded to exercise heightened situational awareness at all times; on detecting suspicious behaviour or packages, personnel should vacate the area immediately and report the information to a member of the security forces.

Avoid all travel to Basilan and the Sulu Archipelago due to risks posed by insurgent and associated criminal activity. Travel to most of Mindanao is viable, but travel to areas of insurgency in south-western Mindanao should be for essential purposes only; seek itinerary- and profile-specific advice prior to travel.
There is a credible risk of attack by either domestic or transnational terrorists. Government personnel and buildings, military personnel and facilities, public transport and crowded shopping and entertainment venues are likely targets. Be alert to suspicious behavior and report any suspect packages to the authorities.
The above advice is not exhaustive; seek itinerary-specific advice prior to travel in Philippines.

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