Abu Sayyaf kingpin among those killed in shootout

Police shot dead three kidnappers, including Abraham, and arrested two others during a gunfight off Pulau Gaya in Semporna on Dec 8.

MANILA: Malaysia's security forces have dealt a serious blow to the notorious Abu Sayyaf group by killing the leader of a squad that has been snatching tourists, fishermen, and sailors in waters off Sabah and the Philippines' Sulu archipelago, Philippine officials said on Saturday.

Abraham Hamid, the alleged kingpin, were among the three men killed by police officers from Malaysia's Tiger Platoon in a shootout on Thursday evening off Sabah's Semporma town, the officials said.