Report: Total defeat for Sulu group in Sabah dawn attack
(TMI) – The armed Sulu intruders who had been in Sabah for over three weeks suffered a total defeat in an attack by the Malaysian army early this morning, the Star Online reported today, citing police sources.
“The Sulu armed group was totally routed by Malaysian security forces’ overwhelming firepower unleashed at 7am Tuesday (today), police sources said,” the news portal said.
No Malaysians were killed in the attack but the numbers of those who had died or were wounded among the Filipino militants was unknown, the Inspector-General of Police said at a 11.30am media briefing today, the news portal reported.
The Star Online also said that the situation in Sabah’s east coast, where armed foreigners from the Philippines had clashed with Malaysian authorities, was reportedly under control.
Malaysian security forces have been placed on high alert due to purported threats of retaliation by the armed men who claim to be the royal army of the Sultanate of Sulu, it said.
A spokesman for the Sulu group, Abraham Idjirani, today reportedly said they are safe and are ready to fight back despite the bombs and gunfire that had rained on them this morning.
The Malaysian army launched an attack on the Filipino intruders at Kampung Tanduo, Felda Sahabat in Lahad Datu at 7am today, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak confirmed in a statement today.
The Star Online reported that fresh fighting began between the Sulu gunmen and security forces early this morning. Soldiers are already on the ground in the village, it added.
Gunshots were heard and fighter jets were seen circling around the Felda Sahabat plantation. Explosions were heard for 40 minutes in Kampung Tanduo, the daily reported.
