'Mastermind' of New Year's Eve blast in Cotabato City killed in clash

The alleged mastermind of the New Year's Eve bomb attack at a Cotabato City shopping mall in 2018 was killed after he reportedly shot it out with arresting policemen on Monday.

Abraham Abad Abdulrahman, alias Abbu Suffian, died after a shootout with the team that implemented a search warrant at a residence of Jasmiyah Imbrahim, said to be his wife, in Barangay Bagua 2, Cotabato City.

Abu Suffian was said to have resisted the search and was armed with a Caliber .45 pistol and a hand grenade. Jasmiyah escaped.

The policemen recovered a 60mm high-explosive mortar, improvised explosive device components, and a motorcycle.

Police said Abu Suffian was a member of the Dawlah Islamiya who had IED training in 2015 in Barangay Butril Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat under the late Mohammad Jaafar Maguid, alias Tokboy Maguid, of the Ansar al-Khilafah Philippines (AKP).

Abu Suffian was allegedly involved in the siege of Butig and Marawi City, Lanao del Sur with the Maute Group, and was among the masterminds of the South Seas Mall bombing in Cotabato City on December 31, 2018, that killed two persons and wounded 30 others.

He escaped the military-police operation in Marawi City along with some widows of fallen jihadists and sought refuge in Maguindanao.

Lately, he is operating under Salahuddin Hassan and IED expert Abu Naim, under the direct supervision of Abu Turaife of the DI-BIFF for whom he was purchasing IED components and medical supplies. -NB, GMA News