MANILA, Philippines – Philippine police say government forces have captured the leader of a new Muslim rebel group in the south who has been linked to bombings and a beheading and accused of providing sanctuary to two terror suspects wanted by the United States.
A police report says government troops arrested Mohammad Ali Tambako and five of his men late Sunday while the militants were traveling on a motorcycle taxi to a seaport in southern General Santos city.
The report said Monday that three grenades and two guns were seized from Tambako's group.
Tambako, who formed the group Justice for Islamic Movement with about 70 armed fighters last year, is believed to have given refuge to a Malaysian and a Filipino militant wanted by U.S. and Philippine authorities for deadly bomb attacks.