PNP uncovers alleged Hamas terror plot in Philippines

The PNP on Tuesday said it has uncovered attempts of Hamas to carry out terror activities in the Philippines. Hamas is a Middle East-based group that executed attacks against Israelis and Arabs. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/pEWFalqi9w

— Joviland Rita (@jovilandxrita) February 15, 2022

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday said it has uncovered alleged attempts of Hamas, a Middle East-based group that executed attacks against Israelis and Arabs, to carry out terrorist activities in the Philippines.

In a statement, the PNP said Hamas is recruiting Filipino affiliates who will execute terror attacks against Westerners and Middle Eastern nationals in the Philippines.

Citing the report of its Intelligence Group, the PNP said the information about this alleged terror plot was disclosed by a local contact of Hamas in the country.

Intelligence Group director Police Brigadier General Neil Alinsangan said a Filipino source identified the Hamas operative as “Bashir,” who pledged financial support to some local threat groups linked to international terrorist organizations.

“Coordination and information sharing with foreign and local counterparts disclosed that Bashir’s real name is ‘Fares Al Shikli’ who, allegedly, is  the head of Hamas’s Foreign Liaison Section,” he said.

“He has also an Interpol Red Notice and is charged with an Offense of Terrorism Logistic Support”, he added.

The source made several trips to Malaysia from 2016 to 2018, where he met with Fares Al Shikli to discuss the possibility of staging an attack against Israeli nationals in the country in exchange for financial assistance by Hamas, the PNP said.

In 2016, Fares Al Shikli started grooming him as a local contact in the Philippines and introduced to him theoretical bomb-making training in one of their meetings in Malaysia, according to the PNP.

The PNP added that in 2017, Fares Al Shikli expressed his intention with the source to recruit Filipinos with links to local threat groups who will be used to kill Jews in the country, conduct rallies at selected embassies, and spread video propaganda.

In January 2018, the PNP recalled that Hamas attempted to stage their activities in the Philippines. A chemist who creates explosives and is closely affiliated with Hamas was arrested in Pampanga. He was then deported to Turkey by the Bureau of Immigration, the PNP said.

“This is a stern warning to all terroristic groups who plan to conduct recruitment and similar activities in the country, we have a way to know you and you cannot do your plans here because the PNP and AFP, through the active support of the community, are working together to preempt your devious plans,” Alinsangan said. — RSJ, GMA News