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Abu Sayyaf

Abu Sayyaf is an Islamist militant group in the Philippines which has carried out attacks since 1991. They are engaged in an insurgency for an independent province.

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All Content on this topic

Leila de Lima after her hearing in 2022.

Philippines: Jailed politician held hostage by prisoners

Leila de Lima was unhurt, while the three inmates trying to escape were shot dead by the police.
Law and JusticeOctober 9, 2022
Philippine armored transport on Sulu Island

Abu Sayyaf leader killed in the Philippines

The military reports rescuing hostages and killing "Apo Mike," a militant believed to have plotted kidnappings.
PoliticsMarch 21, 2021
Volunteers attend to an injured man after two explosions

Philippines: Deadly double bomb attacks hit island

Twin explosions in the Philippines have killed at least 14 people and wounded dozens.
TerrorismAugust 24, 2020
Philippinen Soldaten IS

Dutch hostage killed in Philippines

Ewold Horn was Abu Sayyaf's longest-held hostage. The military said it also killed the Abu Sayyaf commander's wife.
TerrorismMay 31, 2019
Philippine marines in Sulu

Philippine troops clash with IS-linked miltants

At least five soldiers and three Abu Sayyaf militants were killed as the military presses forward with a new offensive.
ConflictsFebruary 3, 2019
Inside of bombed out church

Philippines: Many killed in cathedral blasts

At least 20 people have been killed in two explosions outside a church in the southern Philippines.
TerrorismJanuary 27, 2019
Marawi Philippinen Zusammenstöße Soldaten Islamismus

Duterte declares Marawi 'liberation'

Rebuilding and rehabilitating the war-torn city of Marawi will be a test case for Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.
PoliticsOctober 17, 2017
Philipinnen Kämpfe und Flüchtlinge um Marawi

Philippines extends Mindanao martial law

Philippine lawmakers have voted in favor of extending martial law in the troubled southern province of Mindanao.
SocietyJuly 22, 2017
Philippinen Luftangriff in Marawi

Philippines resume operations against militants

Philippine authorities have vowed to put an end to the Islamist uprising, which has left hundreds dead since May.
ConflictsJune 26, 2017
Fighting in the besieged city of Marawi

Death toll soars in besieged Philippines city

More than 80 people have been killed since "Islamic State"-linked rebels rampaged through Marawi.
ConflictsMay 28, 2017
Philipinnen Kämpfe bei Marawi

Philippines army battles IS-linked group

Philippines troops are battling IS-affiliated militants for a fourth day in the southern city of Marawi.
TerrorismMay 26, 2017
Unruhen Philippinen Militär IS Marawi

Motives behind martial law

Philippine President Duterte is likely to extend the recently imposed Martial law to areas other than Mindanao.
PoliticsMay 24, 2017
Philippinen Militärkonvoi bei Pantar fährt Richtung Marawi

Islamists raid Filipino church, kill policeman

A group of Islamist militants seized a Catholic priest and several churchgoers as clashes continue in the Philippines.
ConflictsMay 24, 2017
Phillippinen Rodrigo Duterte

Duterte declares martial law after clash

At least one policeman has been killed in the Philippines during a fight with IS-linked militants.
TerrorismMay 23, 2017
Philippinen Soldat mit Steckbrief eines Abu Sayyaf-Mitglieds

Philippine marines kill Abu Sayyaf leader

Philippine marines have killed an Abu Sayyaf extremist commander and kidnapper.
CrimeApril 29, 2017
Phillippinen Anti-Terrorkampf

Philippine forces kill 'IS'-linked leader

The troops are targeting militants directly responsible for the killing of German and Canadian hostages.
ConflictsApril 22, 2017
Abu Sayyaf

Philippine forces kill key Abu Sayyaf commander

The militant Islamist group was blamed for the beheading of a German sailor in March.
ConflictsApril 12, 2017
Syrien Krieg - Rebellen mit IS-Flagge in Aleppo

Seven terror organizations in the news

Here are seven headline-making terror organizations that you need to know about.
PoliticsFebruary 28, 2017
Philippinen Deutschland Segelboot Entführungsopfer Abu Sayyaf

German hostage confirmed dead in Philippines

The German government has confirmed the murder of a 70-year-old German hostage in the Philippines.
CrimeFebruary 27, 2017
Philippinen Deutschland Segelboot Entführungsopfer Abu Sayyaf

German hostage in Philippines reported dead

Both the military and the president's office said they received information that the hostage was killed.
TerrorismFebruary 26, 2017
Abu Sayyaf

Philippine military strikes out at Abu Sayyaf

The deadline for the delivery of a 566,000-euro ransom for a German hostage has passed with no updates.
ConflictsFebruary 26, 2017
Philippinen Symbolbild - Gefängniswachen

Duterte threatens to impose martial law

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said that "no one" could stop him from imposing martial law in the country.
CrimeJanuary 15, 2017
Philipinen Islamistengruppe Abu Sayyaf Freilassung von Geiseln

Filipino and South Korean hostages freed

A three-month ordeal has ended for a sea captain from South Korea and a Filipino crewman.
ConflictsJanuary 14, 2017
Somalia 2009 - Jürgen Kantner & Sabine Merz, Seeleute

Pirates abduct German yachtsman, murders companion

The Islamist Abu Sayyaf group claims it has abducted a German sailor and killed his companion aboard their yacht.
CatastropheNovember 7, 2016
Filipino policemen cross a wooden bridge during a military offensive on the outskirts of Jolo, Sulu Island, southern Philippines, 27 April 2016

Indonesian sailor flees Abu Sayaff kidnappers

A 28-year old hostage has managed to escape from the Abu Sayyaf group who threatened to behead him.
August 17, 2016
Philippinen Abu Sayyaf Kämpfer Screenshot

ISIS in the Philippines

In the Philippines, a terror group called Abu Sayyaf which started in the 1990s now appears to be switching allegiance.
PoliticsJune 24, 201605:49 min
Indonesien Außenministerin Retno Marsudi

Indonesian sailors abducted in Philippines

Filipino militants have hijacked a tugboat and taken seven crew members hostage, the Indonesian government has said.
June 24, 2016
Philippinen Robert Hall und John Ridsdel

Philippines confirms death of Canadian hostage

The government of the Philippines has confirmed that Robert Hall is dead.
June 14, 2016
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

Canadian hostage likely killed in Philippines

The militant group Abu Sayyaf kidnapped Robert Hall from an island resort in 2015.
June 13, 2016
Police in Jolo, Philippines

Philippine rebels release Indonesian hostages

Islamist militants in the southern Philippines have freed 10 Indonesian sailors who were abducted at sea five weeks ago.
May 1, 2016
Filipino president Benigno Aquino III speaks during the Philippine Army's 119th Anniversary celebration

Philippines leader vows to 'neutralize' militants

President Benigno Aquino has announced plans to launch a military assault against Islamic Abu Sayyaf militants.
April 27, 2016
Abu Sayyaf Rebellen Mitglieder

Abu Sayyaf is 'more of a brand now'

Analyst Joseph Franco talks to DW about the threat posed by Abu Sayyaf militants in the Philippines.
April 27, 2016

Philippine terrorists execute Canadian hostage

A Canadian citizen has been executed after spending months as a captive of Abu Sayyaf militia in the Philippines.
April 25, 2016
Filipino Armee Soldaten in Militärlastwagen in Patikol Stadt

Philippines soldiers die in fighting

The Philippine army suffered heavy loses during a daylong battle against Abu Sayyaf militants, military officials say.
April 10, 2016
Indonesian ocean

Indonesians hijacked in Philippine waters

Ten Indonesians have been hijacked when their ship was seized in Philippine waters. A ransom has been demanded.
March 29, 2016
In a video, Philippine militant group Abu Sayyaf demands more than $80 million for hostages

Philippine militants demand high-stakes ransom

A Philippine militant group has demanded more than $80 million for four hostages, including three foreigners.
November 4, 2015
Philippine hostages Gringo Villaruz and Rod Pagaling escaped from Islamic militants during a raid by the army.

Philippine hostages escape

Two coast guards held hostage by an Islamic militant group in the Philippines escaped during an army raid.
August 20, 2015
US Militärhubschrauber UH-60 Black Hawk Ausschnitt

US forces kill IS leader Abu Sayyaf

US Special Forces troops flew into eastern Syria and killed IS militant leader Abu Sayyaf and captured his wife.
May 16, 2015
Two freed German hostages arrive at the Villamor air base in Pasay city, metro Manila in this October 18, 2014 handout courtesy of the Philippine Air Force. Al Qaeda-linked Islamist militants in the Philippines released the two hostages on Friday, after saying they would behead one of them if their demands were not met. The hostages, captured by the Abu Sayyaf group in April from a yacht on the high seas, had been held on the remote island of Jolo, 600 miles (960 km) south of Manila and a hotbed of Islamist militancy in the mainly Roman Catholic nation. REUTERS/Armed Forces of the Philippines, PAF/Handout via Reuters

German hostages arrive in Manila

A couple freed on Friday by their captors in the southern Philippines after six months as hostages have arrived at the German embassy in Manila. Experts fear more kidnappings of the same kind.
October 18, 2014
Extremisten der Terrorgruppe Abu Sayyaf mit den deutschen Geiseln Archiv

German hostages freed in the Philippines

A German couple held hostage for six months by an Islamist group in the Philippines has been freed, according to a military spokesman. The al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf has claimed they received the demanded ransom.
October 17, 2014
Philippinie Soldiers 17.10.2014 Jolo

Ransom reportedly paid for German hostages

According to some media reports, part of a four-million-euro ransom was paid in return for the release of two German hostages held by terrorists in the Philippines. Sources say the man is unharmed.
October 17, 2014
Philippinische Soldaten Suche nach deutschen Geiseln 09.05.2014

Deadline for German hostages expires

The ransom deadline for two German hostages kidnapped in the Philippines has expired. The Islamist group holding them has demanded four million euros for their release.
October 17, 2014

Deadline nears for German hostages in Philippines

A German hostage in the Philippines says Islamists have threatened to execute him on Friday if his ransom of over 4 million euros isn't paid. The man was captured with his wife in the western Pacific in April.
October 15, 2014
Symbolbild Philippinen deutsche Geiseln Archiv

Militants extend deadline

Al Qaeda-linked militants in the Philippines have said they will kill two German captives by October 17 if Berlin doesn't meet their demands. The new deadline gives the hostages an extra week.
October 2, 2014
Symbolbild Philippinen deutsche Geiseln Archiv

German hostages plead for help

Two Germans held captive by Islamist militants in the southern Philippines have appealed to authorities to secure their release. Their captors have threatened to kill them if their demands are not met.
September 29, 2014

Fear for German hostages

There is growing concern about the fate of two German hostages in the Philippines.
September 25, 2014

Abu Sayyaf 'seeking global attention'

Joseph Franco tells DW why the militant group in the southern Philippines should be taken seriously.
September 25, 2014
Philippine military troops aboard trucks and armored personnel carriers (APC) patrol near a polling center during mid-term elections in Lanao del sur on May 13, 2013. (photo via getty images)

Deadly clashes in Philippines

At least 11 people have been killed in the Philippines as troops clashed with Islamic insurgents. Military sources said the group is to blame for several of the nations worst terror attacks.
May 25, 2013
Filipino evacuees displaced by fighting between government troops and Muslim rebels wait for distribution of sacks of rice from the World Food Programme

Peace crisis

The gun battle raging between the Philippine army and rebels is the deadliest since 2008.
October 20, 2011
Philippine government troops

Italian freed

An Italian has been freed by militants in the Philippines after nearly six months in captivity.
July 12, 2009