Tag Archive for: Abu Sayyaf

Islamic group Abu Sayyaf Plans Beheading of Twenty-Two Hostages on April 25th

Not much attention has been paid to Abu Sayyaf’s identification with Islamic State. AAs maritime kidnappings escalate around the Philippine’s southern islands, the oldest group of hostages (2 Canadians, 1 Norwegian and 1 Filipina) face a looming deadline of execution at 3:00 pm on 25 April 2016.  Factions of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) have captured a growing number of hostages in recent weeks (April 2016) and have issued various execution deadlines and ransom demands. Pressure to pay ransom increased this week when a private company agreed to pay over $1 million for their 10 crew members who were taken hostage on 01 April 2016 and when the brother of victim, Bernard Then began a petition to negotiate the release of other hostages.   The pressure boiled over after the 21 April 2016 photo release of two beheadings by the Maute wing of ASG.

4 DIFFERENT SETS OF ABDUCTIONS

As of 13 April 2016, officials in the Philippines acknowledged at least 18 foreigners were ASG hostages. However, TRAC’s count is higher: there are at least 22 hostages held from four different sets of abductions.

  • GROUP 1: 4 HOSTAGES (2 CANADIANS, 1 NORWEGIAN, 1 FILIPINA) – 21 September 2015
  • GROUP 2: 10 INDONESIAN SAILORS – 26 March 2016
  • GROUP 3: 4 MALAYSIAN SAILORS – 01 April 2016
  • GROUP 4: 4 INDONESIANS – 15 April 2016

CLICK TO VIEW:

The Complete TRAC Incident Report: Abu Sayyaf group’s 4 different sets of hostages

Islamic States Allegiances in the Pacific Rim: Katibah Nusantara Lid Daulah Islamiyyah / Malay archipelago unit for ISIS / Majmu’ah al Arkhabiliy / Jamaah Ansar Khilalaf Daulah Nusantara

Maute Group  (the Maute Group connects JI and ASG)

EDITORS NOTE: This exclusive content has been unlocked and will be available for viewing for FIVE days as a courtesy to our TRAC Briefings subscribers.  To obtain more information about TRAC subscriptions, contact Hylda Fenton today.