Philippine forces arrest ‘Egyptian ex-Islamic State commander’ after raid on Manila flat

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Arrested foreigner Fehmi Lassoued, also known as John Rasheed Lassoned, said to be Egyptian, is presented to the media during a news conference on February 19, 2018 at Camp Crame in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines. Photo: AP

Published: 8:39pm, 19 Feb 2018Updated: 8:39pm, 19 Feb 2018

Philippine police and army troops have arrested an Arab man they believe was a former commander of Islamic State along the Syria and Turkey border in a raid on a Manila flat, where they found bomb-making materials and an IS-style flag, the national police chief said on Monday.

Police Director General Ronald dela Rosa said Fehmi Lassoued, who is reportedly from Egypt, and his Filipino companion, Anabel Moncera Salipada, were arrested last week based on intelligence provided by foreign counterparts.

Philippine National Police Chief General Ronald Dela Rosa presents to the media arrested foreigner Fehmi Lassoued on February 19, 2018 at Camp Crame in suburban Quezon City. Photo: AP

He said investigators were looking into possible links between the two suspects and local and foreign militant groups, and whether they were involved in any terrorist activity.

Dela Rosa said at a news conference that Lassoued has a fake Tunisian passport and may be a militant recruiter, but did not offer any evidence.