Tag: Terrorism

DFA: No Filipino hurt in Paris knife attack

(Eagle News) — No Filipino was hurt in the knife attack in Paris, France on Saturday, May 12, that led to the death of one person. This is according to the Department of Foreign Affairs that issued a statement on Monday, May 14. “Ambassador [Theresa] Lazaro said the Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack but has not provided evidence to support its claim,” the DFA said. Naturalized Frenchman Khamzat Azimov carried out the […]

Friend of Paris knife attacker arrested in Strasbourg: source

PARIS, France (AFP)–A friend of the Chechen-born man who killed one person during a stabbing spree in Paris on Saturday night has been arrested in the eastern French city of Strasbourg, a source close to the inquiry said Sunday. The attacker, whom official sources have named as Khamzat A., grew up with his family in Strasbourg, home to a large community of refugees from the Muslim Russian republic of Chechnya.

ISIS recruits members in PHL, says US official

(Eagle News) — The Islamic State (ISIS) is looking for new members to recruit and new safe havens worldwide, according to an official of the US State Department. “ISIS in particular has looked at finding new safe havens in terms of land as well and in that aspect they have looked very strongly at Southeast Asia, in particular Southern Philippines,” US State Department’s Director for the Office of Countering Violent Extremism, Irfan Saeed said in […]

Albayalde: Anti-terrorism drills to be conducted in Metro Manila districts, others

By Mar Gabriel Eagle News Service Incoming Philippine National Police chief Oscar Albayalde said anti-terrorism drills will be conducted in all districts in Metro Manila and in others. Albayalde made the pronouncement after a simulation exercise was held by the Quezon City Police District on Thursday, April 12. The drill involved policemen responding to a “loud explosion” in the Araneta bus terminal, and to a “hostage-taking” on a passenger bus by one of the “suspects.” […]

DFA checking for Filipino casualties after van rams packed restaurant in Germany

(Eagle News)–The Department of Foreign Affairs is still checking whether there were Filipino casualties when a vehicle plowed into a crowd of pedestrians in Munster, Germany. In a DFA statement, Embassy Chargè d’Affaires Lilibeth Pono said around 4,100 of the 22,500 Filipinos are in North Rhine-Westphalia, where Munster is located. She said the Embassy has also asked the Essen Honorary Consul in Essen, Heinz-Peter Heidrich, to coordinate with police  in Munster. Pono said members of the […]

PNP to continue to go after communist rebels despite President Duterte’s pronouncement on peace talks

  By Mar Gabriel Eagle News Service The Philippine National Police will continue to go after communist rebels. Chief Supt. John Bulalacao, PNP spokesperson, made the pronouncement even after President Rodrigo Duterte  said on Tuesday that peace talks with the communists could continue if they stop committing alleged atrocities and agree to a ceasefire. “In fact, ang intel community, tuloy (ang paghahanap sa kanila)..Habang walang peace talks tuloy ang effort na yun,” Bulalacao said. He […]

Marawi residents allowed to return to “ground zero”

By Ayee Macaraig Agence France Presse After fleeing for their lives nearly a year ago, some residents of the battle-scarred city of Marawi were allowed back Sunday for the first time — to dig through the rubble that was once their homes. Swathes of the southern city were destroyed in five months of house-to-house fighting between troops and jihadists loyal to the Islamic State group that killed nearly 1,200. The stunned and tearful residents, who once […]

Hero French policeman dies after jihadist shooting spree

by Mathieu Gorse and Katy Lee in Paris Agence France Presse President Emmanuel Macron led tributes Saturday to a French policeman who died after offering himself as a hostage to help end an Islamist attack, becoming the fourth victim of the shooting spree and supermarket siege. Lieutenant-Colonel Arnaud Beltrame, 45, was among a group of officers who rushed to the scene in the southwestern town of Trebes on Friday after an attacker claiming allegiance to […]

PHL, Australia reaffirm commitment to war vs terror

Cayetano, Turnbull discuss human rights, the West Philippine Sea, others in bilateral meet in Sydney (Eagle News) – The Philippines and Australia reaffirmed their commitment  to fight terrorism, and discussed human rights, rule of law,  the West Philippine Sea, and people-to-people relations in their bilateral meeting in Sydney, Australia. This was according to Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, who represented President Rodrigo Duterte during the bilateral meeting with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull  on […]

Australia warns on encrypted apps as Southeast Asia vows terror cooperation

by Martin Parry Agence France Presse SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Use of encrypted messaging apps to plan terrorist attacks is the greatest threat facing intelligence agencies in modern times, Australia warned Saturday as Southeast Asian leaders vowed closer cooperation to counter extremism. An ASEAN-Australia special summit in Sydney heard that use of the “dark web” was a spiralling problem and countries in the region must work together to keep on top of it. Australia’s Home […]

ASEAN, Australia to sign security agreement to counter violent extremism, terrorism

SYDNEY, Australia — A memorandum of understanding  on regional cooperation against violent extremism will be signed by 10 Association of Southeast Asian countries and Australia on Saturday. The MOU reportedly contains a provision to pool cyber intelligence and police resources across the region to address these threats for the first time. The Australian newspaper said it would include a regional digital forensics taskforce and uniform criminal legislative frameworks to secure prosecutions. During the ASEAN-Australia Special […]

Cayetano: PHL to reaffirm commitment to war vs terror in ASEAN-Australia summit this week

(Eagle News) — The Philippines will once again affirm its commitment to the war against terror during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-Australia Special Summit to be held in Sydney this week. In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs said the country–which will be represented by Foreign Affairs Alan Peter Cayetano–will also share its development agenda during the two-day leaders dialogue that is “expected to focus on political-security, business, and other regional concerns.” Among the […]