’ISIS’-Linked Group Threatens Philippines with New Terror Attacks, Kills 9

Local Editor

The Filipino "Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters" [BIFF] militant group, linked with "ISIS", warned that they would continue deadly terror attacks in retaliation for government counterterrorism efforts, local media reported Saturday.

On December 23-25, BIFF militants conducted a series of terror attacks in the country, killing at least eight innocent people and allegedly destroying and damaging several power grid facilities.

BIFF reported that the attacks were the result of government activities against extremist groups in country's southern island of Mindanao and warned of more attacks in the near future, The Philippine Star, a local English language newspaper reported.

The newspaper added that the militants aimed to show that they opposed the central government and had enough power to struggle against it.

Meanwhile, the army troops killed four members of the BIFF after they attacked a farming town in Sultan Kudarat province on the southern island of Mindanao.

Miriam Ferrer, the government's chief negotiator in peace talks with the "Moro Islamic Liberation Front" [MILF], said seven farmers were shot at close range while working in their rice paddies and two other civilians were killed in a grenade attack on a chapel in nearby North Cotabato province.

Ferrer said the insurgents had also taken civilian hostage in the Sultan Kudarat attack and used them as human shields when soldiers pursued them, but the hostages were later freed.

The leaders of the BIFF had previously expressed allegiance to "ISIS" Wahhabi terror group which is outlawed in many countries.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team