Story of Lahad Datu Standoff
GUNFIGHT: Cop recounts the moment Sulu terrorists killed his colleagues in Kampung Simunul on March 2
AS the main assaulters in the police raiding team outside the terrorists hideout were hit by bullets, *Adam, *Amir and the other operatives behind them pulled back and dove for cover. The enemy had a clear field of fire and the police team was exposed.
Just seconds after the terrorists opened fire, the area where the terrorists were located exploded in a volley of fresh fire as more enemy combatants lit up the police assault team. The police laid down suppressive fire to give their men a chance to get behind cover.
Many leapt into the door-less houses that lined the walkway; these would be their foxholes for the next 24 hours, at least. Adam and Amir were among those who escaped the complex maze. They dialled up their combat net (command centre) and called for backup.
Recalling that moment, Adam said as he moved further from the house, turning his head every now and then, he saw the terrorists exit the house to pull his comrades who were lying in pools of their own blood outside the door, closer in.
"One of our men who was shot at the door retreated but fell into the water below. Somehow, he managed to call the operations centre.
"He was telling command about the ambush and that he had been shot. The terrorists must have heard him. We found his bullet-riddled body a few metres from where he fell," Adam said.
This was the only time throughout our conversation that Adam was overcome with emotion.
"Then there was a lull in the fighting. I looked back and this was when I saw the terrorists striking my brothers with their barong (a knife resembling a cleaver used in the Philippines) repeatedly.
"They were already badly wounded. I did not hear any sound coming from them as they were being hacked," the officer, not more than 30, said. He let his voice trail off until he was barely audible.
Heavy gunfire resumed, this time coming from all directions. *Musa, who
AS the main assaulters in the police raiding team outside the terrorists hideout were hit by bullets, *Adam, *Amir and the other operatives behind them pulled back and dove for cover. The enemy had a clear field of fire and the police team was exposed.
Just seconds after the terrorists opened fire, the area where the terrorists were located exploded in a volley of fresh fire as more enemy combatants lit up the police assault team. The police laid down suppressive fire to give their men a chance to get behind cover.
Many leapt into the door-less houses that lined the walkway; these would be their foxholes for the next 24 hours, at least. Adam and Amir were among those who escaped the complex maze. They dialled up their combat net (command centre) and called for backup.
Recalling that moment, Adam said as he moved further from the house, turning his head every now and then, he saw the terrorists exit the house to pull his comrades who were lying in pools of their own blood outside the door, closer in.
"One of our men who was shot at the door retreated but fell into the water below. Somehow, he managed to call the operations centre.
"He was telling command about the ambush and that he had been shot. The terrorists must have heard him. We found his bullet-riddled body a few metres from where he fell," Adam said.
This was the only time throughout our conversation that Adam was overcome with emotion.
"Then there was a lull in the fighting. I looked back and this was when I saw the terrorists striking my brothers with their barong (a knife resembling a cleaver used in the Philippines) repeatedly.
"They were already badly wounded. I did not hear any sound coming from them as they were being hacked," the officer, not more than 30, said. He let his voice trail off until he was barely audible.
Heavy gunfire resumed, this time coming from all directions. *Musa, who