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Philippine troops capture militant who sheltered US-hunted terror suspects, officials say

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Army and police forces escort handcuffed Mohammad Ali Tambako, the leader of a Muslim rebel group in the south who has been linked to bombings and a beheading and accused of protecting two terror suspects wanted by the United States, shortly upon arrival at Villamor Air Base at suburban Pasay city south of Manila, Philippines Monday, March 16, 2015. Tambako and five of his men were arrested late Sunday while the militants were traveling in a motorcycle sidecar taxi to a seaport in southern General Santos city.(AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) (The Associated Press)

Army and police forces escort a handcuffed Mohammad Ali Tambako, the leader of a Muslim rebel group in the south who has been linked to bombings and a beheading and accused of protecting two terror suspects wanted by the United States, shortly upon arrival at Villamor Air Base at suburban Pasay city south of Manila, Philippines Monday, March 16, 2015. Tambako and five of his men were arrested late Sunday while the militants were traveling in a motorcycle sidecar taxi to a seaport in southern General Santos city. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) (The Associated Press)

Army and police forces escort handcuffed Mohammad Ali Tambako, the leader of a Muslim rebel group in the south who has been linked to bombings and a beheading and accused of protecting two terror suspects wanted by the United States, shortly upon arrival at Villamor Air Base at suburban Pasay city south of Manila, Philippines Monday, March 16, 2015. Tambako and five of his men were arrested late Sunday while the militants were traveling in a motorcycle sidecar taxi to a seaport in southern General Santos city. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) (The Associated Press)

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.