Incident Summary:
01/16/2020: Assailants abducted eight Indonesian fishermen from a trawler in the waters between Tambisan Island and Kuala Meruap in Kilang Balak Nam Sang, Sabah, Malaysia. As of March 21, 2020, one hostage was killed and the other seven hostages were either released by the assailants or rescued by security forces. No group claimed responsibility; however, sources attributed the attack to the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).
Overview
GTD ID:
202001160002
When:
2020-01-16
Country:
Malaysia
Region:
Southeast Asia
Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:
Sabah
City:
Near Kilang Balak Nam Sang
Location Details:
The incident occurred near Tambisan Island.
What
Attack Information
| Type of Attack () |
Hostage Taking (Kidnapping) |
| Successful Attack? () |
Yes |
Target Information ()
| Target Type: Private Citizens & Property |
|---|
| Name of Entity |
Unknown |
| Specific Description |
Fishermen |
| Nationality of Target |
Indonesia |
Additional Information
| Hostages |
Yes |
| Number of Hostages |
8 |
| US Hostages |
0 |
| Days of Kidnapping |
430 |
| Outcome |
Combination |
| Ransom |
Yes |
| Total Ransom Amount Demanded |
624217.50 |
| Ransom Amount Demanded from US Sources |
0.00 |
| Total Ransom Amount Paid |
0.00 |
| Total Ransom Amount Paid by US Sources |
0.00 |
| Ransom Notes |
Unknown |
| Property Damage |
No |
How
Weapon Information
| Type |
Sub-type |
| Firearms |
Automatic Weapon |
| Weapon Details |
|---|
| M16 assault rifles were used in the attack. |
Additional Information
| Suicide Attack? | No |
| Part of Multiple Incident? | No |
| Criterion 1 () |
Yes |
| Criterion 2 () |
Yes |
| Criterion 3 () |
Yes |
| Doubt Terrorism Proper () |
No |
| Additional Information |
The victims included Abdul Latif, Daeng Akbal, Pian bin Janiru, Arsyad bin Dahlan, Arizal Kastamiran, La Baa, Riswanto bin Hayono, and Edi bin Lawalopo. Three hostages were released shortly after the abduction. Another hostage escaped on June 21, 2020 and was then recaptured on or before June 24, 2020. One hostage was killed on or before September 28, 2020. Finally, three hostages were rescued on March 18, 2021, and the final hostage was rescued on March 21, 2021. |
Who
Perpetrator Statistics
| Number of Perpetrators |
Unknown |
| Number of Captured Perpetrators |
0 |
Casualty Information
| Total Number of Casualties |
1 Fatalities / 0 Injured |
| Total Number of Fatalities |
1 |
| Number of U.S. Fatalities |
0 |
| Number of Perpetrator Fatalities |
0 |
| Total Number of Injured |
0 |
| Number of U.S. Injured |
0 |
| Number of Perpetrators Injured |
0 |
Sources
Sources
| "ASG’s Indonesian captive found dead in Sulu," Manila Bulletin, October 1, 2020. |
| "Abu Sayyaf asks P5M for Jolo doctor’s release," Manila Times, March 9, 2020. |
| "Abu Sayyaf kidnaps 5 Indonesians off Sabah," CNN Philippines, January 19, 2020. |
Criteria
Criteria 1
The act must be aimed at attaining a political, economic, religious, or social goal. In terms of economic goals, the exclusive pursuit of profit does not satisfy this criterion. It must involve the pursuit of more profound, systemic economic change.
Criterion 2
There must be evidence of an intention to coerce, intimidate, or convey some other message to a larger audience (or audiences) than the immediate victims. It is the act taken as a totality that is considered, irrespective if every individual involved in carrying out the act was aware of this intention. As long as any of the planners or decision-makers behind the attack intended to coerce, intimidate or publicize, the intentionality criterion is met.
Criterion 3
The action must be outside the context of legitimate warfare activities. That is, the act must be outside the parameters permitted by international humanitarian law (particularly the prohibition against deliberately targeting civilians or non-combatants.
Doubt Terrorism Proper
The existence of a "Yes" for "Doubt Terrorism Proper?" records reservation, in the eyes of GTD analysts, that the incident in question is truly terrorism. Such uncertainty, however, was not deemed to be sufficient to disqualify the incident from inclusion into the GTD. Furthermore, such a determination of doubt is subsequently coded by GTD analysts as conforming to one of four possible alternative designations: 1) Insurgency/Guerilla Action; 2) Internecine Conflict Action; 3) Mass Murder; or 4) Purely Criminal Act.
Alternate Designation
The determination of "yes" for "Doubt Terrorism Proper" by GTD analysts is coded as conforming to one of four possible alternative designations: 1) Insurgency/Guerilla Action; 2) Internecine Conflict Action; 3) Mass Murder; or 4) Purely Criminal Act.
Successful Attack
Success of a terrorist strike is defined according to the tangible effects of the attack. For example, in a typical successful bombing, the bomb detonates and destroys property and/or kills individuals, whereas an unsuccessful bombing is one in which the bomb is discovered and defused or detonates early and kills the perpetrators. Success is not judged in terms of the larger goals of the perpetrators. For example, a bomb that exploded in a building would be counted as a success even if it did not, for example, succeed in bringing the building down or inducing government repression.
Type of Attack
This field captures the general method of attack and often reflects the broad class of tactics used. It consists of the following nine categories:
- Assassination
- Armed Assault
- Unarmed Assault
- Bombing/Explosion
- Hijacking
- Hostage taking (Barricade Incident)
- Hostage taking (Kidnapping)
- Facility / Infrastructure Attack
- Unknown
Target Information
This field captures the general type of target. It consists of the following 22 categories:
- Abortion Related
- Airports & Airlines
- Business
- Government (General)
- Government (Diplomatic)
- Educational Institution
- Food or Water Supply
- Journalists & Media
- Maritime (includes Ports and Maritime facilities)
- Military
- NGO
- Other
- Police
- Private Citizens & Property
- Religious Figures/Institutions
- Telecommunication
- Terrorists
- Tourists
- Transportation (other than aviation)
- Unknown
- Utilities
- Violent Political Parties
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