Police arrest three foreign terrorists

Three suspected foreign terrorists implicated in bomb and arson attacks in Bangkok and London have been arrested by police and immigration agents here, following reports that they were to bomb the Vietnamese embassy in Manila this weekend.

Leandro Mendoza, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, identified the suspects as Vu Van Doc alias Tom and Quyen, 41, an American citizen of Vietnamese origin; Makato Ito, 62, Japanese national; and Huynh Thuan Ngoc, 42, a Swiss of Vietnamese ancestry.

Vu's US passport was issued January 10, 1997 while Ito's passport was issued on August 7, 1998 by the Japanese government. Ngoc holds a Swiss passport.

Mendoza said the suspects were arrested on Thursday in a raid at Unit 17, Sylvana Town Homes at 304 P. Guevarra St.

The operation came after a search warrant was issued by Pasig City Judge Franchito Diamante and a mission order from the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to apprehend Vu and his group.

Improvised explosive devices consisting of detonating cords, several bags of ammonium nitrate, wires with improvised blasting caps, 12-volt batteries, relays, and cellular phones were recovered from them.

Chief Supt. Robert Delfin, PNP intelligence group director, said Vu is a member of the Free Vietnam Revolutionary Group, the military arm of the Government of Free Vietnam, an organisation fighting for the liberation of Vietnam from communist rule.

Delfin said Vu is believed to be the head of the international terrorist cell operating in Manila. He added that Vu is also wanted by the Royal Thai Police for his role in the foiled bombing of the Vietnamese embassy in Bangkok on June 19.

Vu was also implicated in an arson attack at another Vietnamese embassy in London on September 12 last year.

Police said the suspects might have been planning to bomb the Vietnamese Embassy in Manila today which is the national day of the Republic of Vietnam.

The suspects, who are now detained in Camp Crame, were charged with violation of immigration laws and illegal possession of explosives.

Phong Omz, Vietnamese embassy spokesman, said his country would be seeking the immediate extradition if positive identification is made.