Filipino Terror Group Names New Leader

(Manila, Philippines) According to Brig. Gen. Juancho Sabban, commanding general of the 3rd Marine Brigade in Patikul, Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) informants have confirmed that terror chief Khadafi Abubakar Janjalani died from a gunshot wound to the neck in September. Abu Sayyaf (Arabic for "bearer of the sword") is an Islamist terror group linked to al-Qaeda and known for bombings, assassinations, kidnappings and extortion.

As a consequence of Janjalani's reported death, Abu Sayyaf sub-commanders met and named Radulan Sahiron, aka Sajirun and Sahirun, as the new leader of the terrorist group. Sahiron has been a key leader of ASG and is responsible for brutal acts of terrorism involving bombings of civilians and kidnappings of U.S. and foreign nationals. Rewards for his capture total hundreds of thousands of dollars.

In any event, final confirmation of Janjalani's death awaits the results of DNA testing being conducted by Filipino and U.S. authorities.