KUCHING: A Malaysian shopkeeper-turned-bomb-maker associated with Islamic State (IS) is suspected to be among 13 Abu Sayyaf gunmen killed in a clash with the Philippines military in Basilan island.
Initial ground reports allege that the Malaysian could be Mohd Najib Hussein, 38, alias Abu Anas who was a key figure in the IS' Black Flag cell of Universiti Malaya professor Dr Mahmud Ahmad alias Abu Handzalah who has been hiding out with the Abu Sayyaf in southern Philippines.
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