BREAKING: American Peace Corps workers taken hostage in southern Philippines
MANILA --
An attack on a school today on the outskirts of Zamboanga City, in southern Philippines, has resulted in the taking of 17 hostages. Among these were foreign nationals, training for deployments throughout the southern Philippines as teachers in rural schools. Of the 17 hostages, three Australians, two Japanese, two South Koreans, one Singaporean, two Britons, two Canadians, and seven Americans are reportedly among the group.
11 Filipino teachers reportedly have been executed by the hostage takers after confessing their religion. Their bodies were strewn on the steps of the small school, thrown out of windows on the second floor. Three Muslim Filipino teachers were reportedly released unharmed.
Masked individuals raising the banner of the Islamic State have announced that they are conducting the attack on behalf of the Islamic State of East Asia (ISEA), and will not release the hostages until the southern Philippines can be declared a Muslim State under Sharia law. The number of perpetrators are not known, nor their origin.
The families of all hostages, and the Peace Corps in particular, are demanding the US Government take action to rescue its citizens. Filipinos in the city have repeatedly requested additional action from the United States, that once had a thriving anti-extremist force deployed to the region amidst the War on Terror. ISEA representatives have said that if the Philippines does not seriously consider the independence of the southern Philippines, it will continue targeting the allies of the Philippines.
More information will be provided as it arrives.
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