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Sheikh Aaidh al-Qarni, Saudi preacher, shot in Philippines | Sheikh Aaidh al-Qarni, Saudi preacher, shot in Philippines |
(6 months later) | |
An influential Saudi Arabian preacher was shot and wounded in a southern Philippine city on Tuesday, police said, adding that security forces had killed the gunman. | An influential Saudi Arabian preacher was shot and wounded in a southern Philippine city on Tuesday, police said, adding that security forces had killed the gunman. |
Sheikh Aaidh al-Qarni was in hospital following the shooting in Zamboanga city but did not have life-threatening injuries, local police spokeswoman Senior Inspector Helen Galvez said. | Sheikh Aaidh al-Qarni was in hospital following the shooting in Zamboanga city but did not have life-threatening injuries, local police spokeswoman Senior Inspector Helen Galvez said. |
“He is out of danger,” Galvez told AFP by phone. | “He is out of danger,” Galvez told AFP by phone. |
A police report said that Qarni was shot in the right shoulder, left arm and chest while his companion, a Saudi embassy attaché, was wounded in his right thigh and left leg. | A police report said that Qarni was shot in the right shoulder, left arm and chest while his companion, a Saudi embassy attaché, was wounded in his right thigh and left leg. |
However, a Saudi embassy statement later said none of Qarni’s companions were wounded. | However, a Saudi embassy statement later said none of Qarni’s companions were wounded. |
The police said Qarni had just delivered a university lecture when a man came out of the crowd and opened fire with a .45 calibre pistol. | The police said Qarni had just delivered a university lecture when a man came out of the crowd and opened fire with a .45 calibre pistol. |
Police acting as security escorts shot the attacker dead. | Police acting as security escorts shot the attacker dead. |
“We pinned down the gunman. He’s dead,” Galvez said. | “We pinned down the gunman. He’s dead,” Galvez said. |
She said the gunman was apparently a Filipino and that two other Filipino men, residents of Zamboanga, were later arrested after eyewitnesses said they were with the attacker. | She said the gunman was apparently a Filipino and that two other Filipino men, residents of Zamboanga, were later arrested after eyewitnesses said they were with the attacker. |
But Galvez did not immediately identify the gunman. | But Galvez did not immediately identify the gunman. |
“We still do not know what this group is or the motives of the gunman,” she said. | “We still do not know what this group is or the motives of the gunman,” she said. |
The Saudi embassy in Manila confirmed the incident, stating Qarni was hit in the arm when a man approached his car and shot him as he left a conference. | The Saudi embassy in Manila confirmed the incident, stating Qarni was hit in the arm when a man approached his car and shot him as he left a conference. |
He was visiting at the invitation of a local religious association, the embassy said. | He was visiting at the invitation of a local religious association, the embassy said. |
The preacher was later flown to Manila on a plane made available by the Saudi embassy, according to a statement. | The preacher was later flown to Manila on a plane made available by the Saudi embassy, according to a statement. |
Saudi media outlets described Qarni as a senior Islamic scholar. He has more than 12 million followers on Twitter. | Saudi media outlets described Qarni as a senior Islamic scholar. He has more than 12 million followers on Twitter. |
In his book Awakening Islam, the French academic Stephane Lacroix included Qarni among “the most famous” Saudi preachers. | In his book Awakening Islam, the French academic Stephane Lacroix included Qarni among “the most famous” Saudi preachers. |
Qarni’s name was among those of a number of Saudi scholars listed by the Islamic State group in the latest issue of Dabiq, its monthly online magazine, in an article entitled “Kill the Imams of Kufr”. | Qarni’s name was among those of a number of Saudi scholars listed by the Islamic State group in the latest issue of Dabiq, its monthly online magazine, in an article entitled “Kill the Imams of Kufr”. |
It accused the scholars of apostasy, and called on “lone wolves” to act against them. | It accused the scholars of apostasy, and called on “lone wolves” to act against them. |
Militants who launched who a deadly assault on a remote army outpost in the southern Philippines late last month waved black Islamic State flags when they raided the detachment. | Militants who launched who a deadly assault on a remote army outpost in the southern Philippines late last month waved black Islamic State flags when they raided the detachment. |
The attack triggered a week of fighting that left at least 12 militants and five soldiers dead. | The attack triggered a week of fighting that left at least 12 militants and five soldiers dead. |
Zamboanga is one of the largest cities in the southern Philippines, which has been home to a decades-long separatist rebellion by the mainly Catholic nation’s Muslim minority. | Zamboanga is one of the largest cities in the southern Philippines, which has been home to a decades-long separatist rebellion by the mainly Catholic nation’s Muslim minority. |
Zamboanga has a mixed Christian and Muslim population, and has been a frequent target of attacks by local Muslim militant groups. | Zamboanga has a mixed Christian and Muslim population, and has been a frequent target of attacks by local Muslim militant groups. |
One of the nation’s main Muslim rebel groups raided the city in 2013, triggering three weeks of clashes with security forces that left more than 200 people dead. | One of the nation’s main Muslim rebel groups raided the city in 2013, triggering three weeks of clashes with security forces that left more than 200 people dead. |
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