Fehim Lassoued, alias John Rasheed Lassoued, being held by Philippine soldiers as he is presented to the media (Photo: dzrhnews.com)Hanoi (VNA) - Philippine police announced on February 19that the country’s authorities have arrested an Egyptian man suspected of beinga member of the Islamic States (IS) extremist group.
Chief of the Philippine National Police Ronald Dela Rosa said Fehmi Lassouedwas arrested with a Philippine woman over the weekend inside his rented room atan apartment in Malate, Manila.
Aside from the arrest of the two suspects, Dela Rosa said the Philippineauthorities also confiscated assorted firearms, ammunition, components forimprovised explosive device such as electronic circuits, resistors, capacitors,batteries and pipe fittings.
He said Lassoued entered the Philippines in July 2016 with a fakeTunisian passport, adding that both suspects were arrested following a tip fromforeign military and police counterparts.
The arrest of Lassoued and Salipada may have effectively thwartedwhatever hostile activities they were up to, Dela Rosa said.
An investigation is underway to determine the couple's involvement inthe international terror group, including possible involvement in the attack inthe southern Philippine city of Marawi in May last year, which triggered afive-month firefight that killed more than 1,200 people.-VNA
VNA
