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Malaysia’s most-wanted militant flees Marawi

Malaysia’s most-wanted terrorist Mahmud Ahmad, who helped lead and finance the ongoing siege in Marawi, has escaped from the southern Philippine city, Malaysia’s police chief Khalid Abu Bakar said on Sunday (June 25).

This image taken from an undated video shown to The Associated Press by the Philippine military shows Malaysian militant Mahmud bin Ahmad. AP file photo

This image taken from an undated video shown to The Associated Press by the Philippine military shows Malaysian militant Mahmud bin Ahmad. AP file photo

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Malaysia’s most-wanted terrorist Mahmud Ahmad, who helped lead and finance the ongoing siege in Marawi, has escaped from the southern Philippine city, Malaysia’s police chief Khalid Abu Bakar said on Sunday (June 25).

He said the Philippine authorities reported that militant Isnilon Hapilon — who was proclaimed by the Islamic State (IS) last year as its “emir” in South-east Asia — has escaped the siege in Marawi.

“We believe Mahmud is with him,” The Star quoted Mr Khalid as saying, reiterating that Mahmud is still alive.

Mr Khalid had on Friday denied reports quoting Philippine military chief of staff General Eduardo Ano as saying that Mahmud — also known as Abu Hanadzalah — was wounded in the fighting in Marawi last month, and reportedly died on June 7 of his wounds.

The former Malaysian university professor was suspected of channelling more than 30 million pesos (S$2.3 million) from the IS to acquire firearms, food and other supplies for the siege.

Mahmud had trained at an Al Qaeda camp in Afghanistan under Osama bin Laden while studying at Pakistan’s Islamabad Islamic University in the late 1990s, before returning home to lecture at University Malaya.

He reportedly ran away to the Philippines after his militant ties were exposed in 2014.

Mahmud, 41, was one of five men sought by the Malaysian police for their alleged ties to terrorist organisations and was previously identified as a recruiter for the IS.

He recently appeared in a video showing militant leaders planning the Marawi siege in a hideout, a sign of his key role in the uprising amid reports that he is the designated successor to Hapilon. AGENCIES

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