Incident Summary:

12/04/2019: Assailants opened fire on a police patrol in Buhanginan, Sulu, Philippines. At least three officers and one militia member were injured in the assault. The assailants sustained an unknown number of casualties. No group claimed responsibility; however, sources attributed the attack to the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).

GTD ID:
201912040016

When:
2019-12-04

Country:
Philippines

Region:
Southeast Asia

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

Sulu

City:
Buhanginan

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Armed Assault
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Police
Name of Entity Philippine National Police (PNP)
Specific Description Patrol
Nationality of Target Philippines
Target Type: Terrorists/Non-state Militia
Name of Entity Bangaray Peacekeeping Action Team (BPAT)
Specific Description Militia Member
Nationality of Target Philippines
Additional Information
Hostages No
Ransom No
Property Damage Yes
Extent of Property Damage Minor (likely < $1 million)
Value of Property Damage Unknown
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Explosives Projectile (rockets, mortars, RPGs, etc.)
Firearms Automatic Weapon
Weapon Details
M203 grenade launchers and M16 assault rifles were used in the attack.
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?No
Part of Multiple Incident?No
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Doubt Terrorism Proper (more) No
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) No
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators 7
Number of Captured Perpetrators 0
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 4 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities Unknown
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities Unknown
Total Number of Injured 4
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured Unknown
Sources
"4 police officers wounded in Sulu ambush," Manila Times (Philippines), December 6, 2019.
"Cops, community defense team member, wounded by Abu Sayyaf in Sulu ambush," Manila Bulletin, December 5, 2019.
"3 cops, militiaman wounded in attack by Abus," Philippine Star, December 5, 2019.