KOTA KINABALU: Security agencies under the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) have launched a hunt for the group of gunmen who snatched three Indonesians in Sabah waters Sunday. The Abu Sayyaf is threatening to behead a Norwegian citizen if a 250mil peso (RM25mil) ransom is not paid. Rashid said according to initial reports, five armed men were on a speedboat that pulled up near the trawler. The latest kidnapping comes just as the Philippines military launched a massive crackdown against the Abu Sayyaf in Jolo and Basilan where over thousands of troops have been deployed. It could not be ascertained which group is behind the latest incident, though suspicion is falling on an Abu Sayyaf sub-commander known as Apo Mike, who has been responsible for several recent kidnappings involving sailors on tugboats plying the international waters between Sabah and Philippines.

Source: The Star July 10, 2016 08:26 UTC