Jihadist threat in the Philippines

The beheading of a German captive by Abu Sayyaf militants has heightened concerns over the proliferation of jihadist groups coalescing under the flag of Islamic State (IS) in the southern Philippines

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Juergen Kantner

Killed in Sulu after deadline for $600,000 ransom expired on Feb 26

Abu Sayyaf

Emerged in 1990s as offshoot of separatist rebellion by minority Moro Muslims in south of mainly Roman Catholic nation

Group earned over $7 million in ransom payments in 2015 alone

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MALAYSIA

INDONESIA

SULU SEA

Sulu Archipelago

Abu Sayyaf

Tawi-Tawi Island

Zamboanga

Basilan Island

CELEBES SEA

BIFF, Maute

PHILIPPINES

Mindanao

Marawi

Maute

AS, AKP, BIFF, Maute

Cotabato

AKP

General Santos

AS, AKP, BIFF, Maute

Davao

INDONESIA

100km 60 miles

Enlarged area


GROUPS PLEDGING ALLEGIANCE TO IS

Areas of major activity

AS: Abu Sayyaf

Maute: Maute Group

AKP: Ansar al-Khilafah Philippines

BIFF: Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, (Islamic State Maguindanao)

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Source: Stratfor 

Picture: Getty Images 

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