COPS CHECKING IF MILITANT DR MAHMUD WAS KILLED IN MARAWI
Dr Mahmud Ahmad believed to have been killed in fighting in Marawi
POLICE are waiting for confirmation from their Philippine counterparts that Malaysia’s most wanted terrorist, Dr Mahmud Ahmad, was killed in a battle overnight in Marawi.
Thirteen rebels were reportedly killed.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun said: “We are in contact with the Philippine authorities to get confirmation.”
The New Straits Times went to Mahmud’s last known address in Selayang to talk to his family members.
A woman in her 60s opened the door, but when his name was mentioned, the woman said: “No need, thank you,” and closed the door.
The team then went to Kampung Nakhoda in Gombak, where Mahmud once ran a religious school.
However, checks revealed that the school was closed and another religious school had been opened in the same building.
An employee of the new school said the building was left empty two years ago, and the new management rented the building early last year.
“The new religious school is run by a different management,” he said.
The man said he had heard about Mahmud, but never met him.
The Philippine military yesterday said there was a possibility that Mahmud was one of the 13 rebels killed in the battle.
Reuters reported that deputy commander of a military task force in Marawi, Colonel Romeo Brawner, said further investigation was required to verify that Mahmud was killed. However, this is not the first time Mahmud is said to have been killed.
In June, the Philippine military confirmed that Mahmud had died in Marawi, but the body was never found.
In August, NST reported that Mahmud was seen in a 6.47minute video, titled “Inside 3”, encouraging supporters to join the militant group in Marawi.
Also seen in the video was former Selayang Municipal Council officer Muhammad Joraimee Awang Raimee and Southeast Asia IS leader Isnilon Hapilon, who was killed on Monday.
Isnilon and Omarkhayam Maute, one of two Middle Easteducated brothers at the helm of the militant alliance Dawla Islamiya, were killed in an operation in Marawi city.