Al-Qaeda suspect arrested at airport

18mar05

A SUSPECTED member of Osama bin Laden's militant Islamic al-Qaeda network has been arrested at Manila airport on arrival in the Philippines from Saudi Arabia.

The suspect, whose name was on a blacklist of individuals with possible terrorist links, was detained upon disembarking from a commercial flight from Riyadh on March 15.
The suspect's identity and nationality were not disclosed.

Immigration officials described the suspect as a trainer in terror activities, but they would not give further details, saying this might jeopardise the investigation.

Al-Qaeda, blamed for the September 11, 2001, terror attacks in the US, has been suspected of activities, including training, in the Philippines.

The group is said to have funded the formation of Abu Sayyaf, a group of Islamic militants based in the southern Philippines who have been accused of staging the worst terrorist attacks in the country's history, including mass bombings and kidnappings.
 

TheAustralian.com