Terrorism in The Philippines - 2001

The Dos Palmas kidnappings was a hostage crisis in the southern Philippines that began with the seizing of twenty hostages from an upscale island resort on Palawan by Abu Sayyaf members on the 27th of May, 2001, and resulted in the deaths of at least 5 of the original hostages, including the two American citizens Guillermo Sobero - who was beheaded on June 12 - and Martin Burnham. At least 22 soldiers were killed in attempts to apprehend the captors and free the hostages in the 12 months following the initial hostage taking. A unknown number of captors died also.

During the crisis the number of those taken captive varied greatly as more hostages were seized in numerous raids on the island of Basilan, including two on the town of Lamitan; on 2 June to occupy a church and hospital compound and take numerous captives, and a second on 2 August where suspected Abu Sayyaf militants captured 35 villagers, beheading 10 of them. Four children, including two 12 year-olds, were also among 15 hostages taken from the coconut plantation in the Lantawan area of Basilan in June. Therefore a total of those taken prisoner at some point may be impossible to determine, however news reports suggest at least 100 hostages were taken and around 20 murdered in just over a year up until the final assault resulting in the freeing of Gracia Burnham and killing of Martin Burnham and Filipina nurse Ediborah Yap on June 7, 2002.

At least 11 people were killed and scores injured when a bomb exploded at a restaurant in a crowded plaza in Zamboanga City. The bomb, believed to be a homemade device, exploded at a barbecue grill in the plaza of the Zamboanga Puericulture Centre beside the city's largest shopping mall. The military previously warned that the Abu Sayyaf group, which was holding two Americans and nine Filipinos in the nearby island of Basilan at that time, might stage attacks and bombings to divert the attention of pursuing military and police forces.