They were responsible for “five near-simultaneous bombings on December 30, 2000, which killed 22 people.” On December 30, 2000, hardly anyone in the world understood the global threat of jihad terrorism and Islamic supremacism. It wasn’t until September 11, 2001, that large numbers of people woke up — and seven and a half years after that, the new President of the United States promises to build relationships with the Islamic world based on “mutual respect,” as if it has been on our side that the respect has been lacking.
Well, in reality the respect is lacking from the other side, and it was lacking before 9/11. This attack is one indication of that.
“Philippine court convicts 3 Muslim militants for bombings – Summary,” from DPA, January 23 (thanks to Block Ness):
Manila – A Philippine court convicted three Muslim militants Friday in the deadly bombing of an overhead train in Manila more than eight years ago and sentenced them to more than 20 years in prison. Manila Regional Trial Court Judge Cielito Mendaro-Grulla found Mukhlis Hadji Yunus, Abdul Fatak Paute and Mamasao Naga guilty of multiple counts of murder and attempted murder.
The attack on the Light Railway Transit train in Manila’s suburban district of Blumentritt was one of five near-simultaneous bombings on December 30, 2000, which killed 22 people.
More than 100 people were injured in the attacks, which also included bombings near the US embassy, at a petrol station and on a passenger bus. […]
Police chief Jesus Versoza welcomed the decision, saying it boosted the government’s fight against terrorism.
Versoza said that he has alerted police officers in some areas in the country for possible retaliatory attacks that might be launched by Islamist militants.
“We have initiated security coverage in the court itself and also those involved in the prosecution of the case,” he said. “We have also alerted some units for possible retaliatory attacks.”
An Indonesian terrorist suspect was also arrested for allegedly financing the bombings, but he escaped detention. He was eventually killed in a firefight with government troops.