MARAWI CITY: Armed extremists stormed a provincial jail and freed eight local rebels, including three women, who were recently captured transporting explosives in Lanao del Sur in southern Philippines.
The raiders, believed to be members of the Khilafah Islamiya Movement, fled in several vehicles after the attack on the jail in Marawi City, reported Mindanao Examiner.
An informant reportedly said as many as 7 vehicles with heavily-armed men stormed the jail and disarmed the guards.
More than a dozen other prisoners took advantage of the attack and also bolted jail near an army base. Jail officials were not immediately available to shed light on the escape of the prisoners, the report said.
Security forces had reportedly captured the rebels in Lanao del Sur tagged as behind the series of attack. Officials reportedly said army soldiers and policemen intercepted the group while transporting explosives in a van in the village of Nanagun in Lumbayanague town.
Troops seized from them two pipe bombs, two fragmentation grenades, one improvised explosive assembled from an 81mm mortar, two .45-caliber pistols and electronic triggering devices, said the news portal.
Interrogation reports revealed the gang was plotting to bomb civilian targets in the volatile region, according to the military’s Western Mindanao Command.
