ISIS-linked militant behind deadly bombings killed in the Philippines

Talha Jumsah had been trained in bomb-making by the extremist group and helped the Abu Sayyaf Group carry out suicide attacks

This undated photo provided by Joint Task Force Sulu, Filipino militant Talha Jumsah, who used the nom de guerre Abu Talha, walks in the jungles of Patikul, Sulu province, southern Philippines. PhilipShow more

Philippine soldiers have killed a militant who had helped a local group linked to ISIS to stage suicide bombings in the southern province of Sulu, the military said on Saturday.

The body of Talha Jumsah, also known as Abu Talha, was recovered after a clash with Filipino troops on Friday morning in the town of Patikul, military officials said.

They said Abu Talha had been trained in bomb-making by ISIS and had instructed the militant Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in setting up suicide attacks.

He had also served as "finance conduit and liaison" between foreign and local extremist fighters.

"The death of Abu Talha will surely cause demoralisation in the ASG ranks in Sulu," said Army Brigadier General Antonio Nafarrete.

Major General Corleto Vinluan Jr, the commander of military forces in Sulu, urged remaining ASG members to "surrender and live a normal life instead of being hunted down as fleeing criminals".

Earlier this month, the army said soldiers had foiled what they called an attempted suicide bombing in an urban area in Jolo municipality in Sulu, the latest in a series of attacks blamed on Abu Sayyaf.

There have been four suicide bombings in Sulu, Abu Sayyaf's stronghold, in the past 16 months, despite intensified army operations and a vow by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to wipe the group out.

The twin bombing of a church in January killed 21 people, a van bomb at a checkpoint in July 2018 killed 11, a suicide attack by two youths killed eight in June, and in September a woman carrying a bomb near an army detachment detonated it prematurely.

The attackers included Indonesians, a Moroccan and Filipinos.