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10 Indonesian crewmen kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf in S. Philippines

Xinhua, March 28, 2016 Adjust font size:

Ten Indonesian crewmen were reportedly kidnapped by terrorist group Abu Sayyaf off Tawi-tawi in southern Philippines, military sources said on Monday.

The source could not immediately say when the kidnapping took place but said the military learned of the incident Monday afternoon.

He also said that one of the victims aboard a tugboat called their superiors, saying they were being held captive by Abu Sayyaf.

"One of the crew called a Taiwanese landline to say they are being held by the armed group Abu Sayyaf and that they (captors) were demanding ransom," the official said.

According to the source, the tugboat from Indonesia was en route to Manila when it was hijacked.

The official said authorities also found the tugboat at Languyan island, Tawi-tawi province, Monday afternoon. "It was moored, meaning it has crew," he said.

Military spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said he has yet received any information about the purported kidnapping.

The 400-strong Abu Sayyaf, founded in the early 1990s by Islamic extremists, is a violent terrorist group operating in southern Philippines. The group is notorious for a series of kidnappings, bombings and beheadings over the decades. Endit