Filipino wanted in US terror plots stands accused in Philippines
MANILA — A Filipino doctor accused of plotting terror attacks in the United States was arrested months ago in the Philippines for his alleged involvement in kidnappings and beheadings blamed on proIslamic State group militants, an official said yesterday.
Chief State Counsel Ricardo Paras told The Associated Press that a Manila court is weighing a US government request that Russell Salic be extradited to face terrorism financing complaints.
US authorities said Friday that they disrupted a plot by Salic and two other Islamic State group sympathizers to carry out terrorist attacks at New York City locations, including concert venues, subway stations and Times Square in the summer of 2016.
Even if the court approves the US extradition request, the Department of Justice in Manila would have to decide whether to let Salic face criminal complaints in the Philippines first or be allowed to be flown to the US to answer the terrorism allegations there, Paras said.
"The US can also request for a temporary surrender of Salic to its custody, but it's in our options to require him to face criminal complaints here first," Paras said.
Salic, 37, is accused of sending money to help fund the planned attacks, according to US court documents, which have been made public. He allegedly told an undercover FBI agent posing as an Islamic extremist that his ultimate goal was to join the Islamic State group in Syria but that "it would be a great pleasure if we can slaughter" people in New York, the documents said. —