Police Hunting Down Suspected Female Al-Qaida Bombers In Southern Philippines

January 14, 2008 11:07 p.m. EST

Manila, Philippines (AHN) - Authorities in the Philippines on Tuesday announced they were looking for suspected female bombers of the al-Qaida-linked Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist group in southern Philippines.

In a statement to reporters in the capital Manila, Philippine National Police Director General Avelino Razon Jr. said he dispatched orders to all police commanders in southern Philippines to verify intelligence reports the JI Islamic terrorist group has deployed female bombers in the region.

Some local newspapers described the terrorists as "sexy bombers," apparently because of their good looks.

Avelino said, "We have not verified it yet. But I ordered our commanders on the ground to look into these reports, and I'm waiting for their response now."

The police made the decision after intelligence reports indicate that 10 alleged "sexy bombers" were deployed by the JI Islamic terrorists to launch attacks in at least 10 key cities in southern Philippines, including Davao, Zamboanga, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Cotabato, Kidapawan, Digos and Pagadian.

The JI is believed to be the regional arm of Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida terror network. The JI is based in Indonesia but also launches attacks in Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines and Malaysia.

Authorities in Manila believed the JI is enjoying support from local Islamic terrorist groups such as the Abu Sayyaf and a faction of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.