ISIS threatens to open new front in war on Philippines

TROOPS have taken to the streets of a second Philippines city amid fears a squad of almost 100 ISIS-backed jihadists has been sent to create a second battlefront in the country’s south.

As the conflict in the city of Marawi, in the province of Mindanao, entered its third month yesterday and the death toll rose to 565 people, Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte warned the country the extremist message could lead to clashes elsewhere.

Mr Duterte revealed 96 ISIS-backed jihadist had fled the lakeside city of Marawi with instructions to create a diversionary attack on another unnamed city as the terrorist group’s regional “emir” Isnilon Hapilon tried to attract support to create a caliphate.

The president signalled the move as he made his second state of the nation address.

Norodin Alonto Lucman, former regional security adviser to former president Fidel Ramos and a regional Muslim clan leader, said the jihadists in Marawi had been given $2.5 million to finance their assault in what clearly was meant to mimic the seizing of Mosul in Iraq.

Mr Lucman, 61, said it threatened to become a contagion if it were not contained.

“President Duterte has to crush this, crush it now, if not it will happen again and not around here but in Manila this

that aired in Britain last night.

“I nearly cried several times watching it back,” he said.

His brother Prince William said producing the documentary time, a perfect city for urban warfare, they can raise havoc,” he said.

“They are looking for new frontiers and Asia is very prosperous but Mindanao is the weak link, so they can start here and hold the region hostage and how can somewhere like Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia . . . prosper when this is happening?”

Mr Lucman has been work- and talking about their mother so candidly had been “cathartic”.

He took the photograph of his mother and brother on the deck of the Royal Yacht Britannia. “Harry and I feel very strongly that we want to celebrate her life, and this is a tribute from her sons to her,” he said.

However he added: “‘We felt it was the right time to do it. We won’t be doing this again.” ing with authorities as he was in Marawi when the city was first attacked and managed to flee with 64 Christians he harboured then led to safety.

In Iligan City, north of Marawi, the military has stepped up daytime patrolling with a column of troops in a show of force. Military checkpoints have also been bolstered at various points, including at the region’s main airport at Cagay-

In the documentary they sit down together to look through a recently discovered photo album and laugh at previously unseen photographs including one of them dressed together in police helmets.

The documentary also includes an interview with Diana’s brother Earl Spencer, who talks about the effect their own parents’ divorce had on her. It also features Sir Elton John, who sang at her funeral. an de Oro where fortified gun pickets and an armoured personnel carrier are now permanently stationed.

Almost all of Marawi’s 200,000 residents were forced to flee their homes when fighting erupted. Many now live in evacuation centres in and about Iligan.

But among those fleeing have been suspected terrorists.

One military checkpoint noticed one man who claimed to have escaped the violence but could not explain how clippings on his shoulder showed he had just managed to have a haircut and change clothes to blend in with those fleeing.

He was later found to be a militant Maute rebel. Another Maute Islamist and suspected “bomber” was also arrested in a village near Cagayan and another in Davao City.