Suspected brains of Cotabato bus bombing, arson captured

Ali Akbar, the alleged mastermind of recent bus attacks in North Cotabato, was arrested by security forces during an operation in Kidapawan City on Monday, June 21. ARMY 6ID

MANILA, Philippines — The alleged mastermind of arson and bombing attacks targeting buses in Cotabato this year has been arrested, the military said.

Suspect Ali Akbar was arrested by security forces during an operation in Kidapawan City on Monday (June 21), according to the Army’s 6th Infantry Division in a statement.

Akbar is the suspected mastermind of the bombing of a unit of Yellow Bus Line (YBL)  in Tulunan last Jan. 27, which killed a vendor, and the burning of another YBL unit in M’lang town last June 4, which killed three people.

Brig. Gen. Roberto Capulong, 602nd Infantry Brigade commander, said Akbar is an expert in making bombs and improvised explosive devices and was involved in extortion by the Dawlah Islamiya-Hassan Group, a homegrown terror group.

Capulong said security forces served an arrest warrant on Akbar issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 23 for double murder and multiple frustrated murder.

Authorities seized 2 IEDs, one blasting cap, several IED components and an Islamic State flag during the arrest.

TSB