Abu Sayyaf bandits holding an Italian Red Cross volunteer captive ambushed and killed Sulu province's top police official, police said Thursday.

Chief Superintendent Bensali Jabarani, ARMM regional police director, said Senior Superintendent Julasirim Kasim and a number of policemen were conducting patrol in Barangay Bulabog, Maimbung town when they were ambushed by the bandits around 1:30 p.m.

An earlier report said Kasim was leading a rescue operation for Red Cross member, Italian Eugenio Vagni, when they were ambushed.

Jabarani said Kasim died on the spot. His brother, Rosalin Kasim and two police escorts Senior Police Officer 3 Asbi Jammahari and SPO3 Abdurajan also died in the ambush.

The regional police chief said Kasim’s group were able to fire back at the Abu Sayyaf members and killed four of them.

Responding troops seized at the clash site a Garand rifle, an M14 rifle, and M16 rifle and an M203 grenade launcher.

A joint police and military pursuit operation has been launched against the remaining bandits. With reports from Queenie Casimiro, ABS-CBN Zamboanga and Jay Ruiz, ABS-CBN News