Philippine security forces are in the process of verifying information that alleges 89 foreign militants, including three Bangladeshis, were on the island of Mindanao in the country, the Philippine Star reported on Saturday. “Authorities are still validating the report that 89 suspected foreign fighters are in Mindanao,” Abella said in a statement. A police intelligence report obtained by Kyodo News showed that the 89 militants included three Bangladeshis, four Arabs, 28 Indonesians, 26 Pakistanis, 21 Malaysians, one Singaporean and one Indian-Singaporean. Abella added that the Philippines were making a collective effort to tackle extremism through trilateral cooperation with Indonesia and Malaysia. At least eight of the terrorists killed during encounters in Marawi were foreign fighters.

Source: Dhaka Tribune June 24, 2017 16:30 UTC