PNP reports Hamas terror plot

The Philippine National Police-Intelligence Group (PNP-IG) has reported uncovering attempts by the Palestinian militant group Hamas to carry out terror attacks in the country.

PNP-IG director Brig. Gen. Neil Alinsangan said yesterday they obtained the information from a local contact of Hamas, a Middle East-based radical Islamic group that has launched attacks against Israelis and Arabs.

“Our Filipino source identified the Hamas operative as Bashir, who is reportedly attempting to establish a foothold in the Philippines with pledges of financial support to some local threat groups, including militant extremists with links to the international terrorist organizations,” Alinsangan said.

He said coordination and information sharing with their foreign and local counterparts revealed Bashir’s real name as Fares Al Shikli, who allegedly heads Hamas’ foreign liaison section.

“He is also on Interpol red notice and charged with an offense of terrorism logistic support,” Alinsangan said.

He said the source admitted to making several trips to Malaysia from 2016 to 2018 where he met with Bashir to discuss the possibility of mounting attacks against Israelis in the Philippines in exchange for financial assistance from Hamas.

It was in 2017 that Bashir expressed his intention with the source to recruit Filipinos with links to local terror groups to be used to kill Jews in the Philippines, conduct rallies at selected embassies and spread video propaganda in exchange for financial support.

In 2018, an alleged chemist of Hamas with knowledge on explosives, Taha Mohamed Al-Jabouri, was arrested in Angeles City in Pampanga. He was deported to Turkey.