Muslim militants storm Philippine jail, free 28 detainees

A Filipino jail guard walks inside a jail in the Philippines. File pic: AP.

28th August 2016

MUSLIM extremists supporting the Islamic State (IS) group have freed eight fellow militants in a daring attack that also allowed 20 other inmates to escape from a provincial jail in the southern Philippines, according to reports.

An Associated Press report quoted police as saying about 20 heavily-armed fighters of the Maute militant group stormed the Lanao del Sur provincial jail in Marawi city before nightfall Saturday, disarmed the guards and rescued their eight comrades, including three women.

The attackers also seized two rifles from guards.

SEE ALSO: Abu Sayyaf denies commander among 12 killed by Philippine army

Police said Sunday the eight militants were arrested by army troops and police when they were caught with a homemade mortar shell in a van in Lanao del Sur’s Lumbayanague town.

The others who escaped were reportedly being held in the prison for other offences, such as drug and murder charges.

The Maute group is a new band of armed Muslim radicals, who have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group.

According to the Inquirer, the group has carried out a number of kidnappings and bombings, and is believed to be linked to the February attack on an army outpost in Butig.

SEE ALSO: Philippines army kills 11 Abu Sayyaf members on Duterte’s order

The daily noted that during the attack, the group was seen brandishing the black flags of the Islamic State (IS) global terror network.

The report added that Filipino authorities are now investigating why the security had not been stepped up when the suspects were brought in.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has been pursuing peace talks with other larger Muslim insurgent groups like the Moro National Liberation Front and the Moro Islamic Liberation front.

The leader has, however, ordered his troops to “destroy” the country’s drug lords and IS-linked terror groups like Abu Sayyaf.

On Friday, a bloody standoff in Sulu, southern Philippines, between members of the Abu Sayyaf Group and the Philippine army reportedly left 12 militants dead.