An alleged bomb specialist of the Indonesia-based terror network Jemaah Islamiyah was arrested in central Mindanao Tuesday, a regional police official said.
Muhammad Alparis, a Bangladeshi, was arrested around 3 p.m. at his rented shop in Barangay (village) Tapayan, Datu Mastura Mun town in Shariff Kabunsuan province, said Chief Superintendent Pedro Tango, chief of police in Region 11, which led the arrest with the regional Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, and Regional Mobile Group.
A warrant of arrest had been on November 27 against Alparis by judge Isaac Robillo of Davao City Regional Trial Court (RTC) branch 13.
Recovered from his shop were two improvised explosive devices crafted from 60-mm mortar shells and two 81-mm mortar shells ready for rigging, Tango told Inquirer.net in a phone interview.
Also seized were other bomb-making components such as electrical wires, a 1.5 dry cell battery, and alarm clock, cellular phone, two mortar boosters, two 9-volt batteries, and detonating cords, police said.
The suspect is being brought to Region 11 police headquarters in Davao City for questioning.
