MANILA, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine police arrested a suspected bomber from the Abu Sayyaf group in the central city of Cebu while he was en route to Manila amid warnings of sympathy attacks and for the armed anti-government group, a police spokesman said on Thursday.

    The suspect was identified as Gino "Noy" Ampuan, who supposedly works under Abu Sayyaf leader Basit Usman. The leader was affiliated with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, a separatist group in the southern Philippines, according to a statement released by National Police spokesman Samuel Pagdilao.

    The police statement said that Ampuan was arrested on Wednesday by joint operatives of the police's Maritime Group and the Philippine Coast Guard during an inspection of an inter-island Super Ferry passenger ship in Cebu City.

    Ampuan reportedly boarded the ship in Polloc Port en route to Manila allegedly on orders of Abu Sayyaf leader Basit Usman, the statement said.

    Bomb-making components consisting of a rifle grenade and an anti-tank projectile were seized from Ampuan's possession, it added; that stuff could be used for an improvised explosive device.

    The police has declared a heightened alert in Metro Manila and in the entire Mindanao following the military's assault of an Abu Sayyaf camp that left 15 government soldiers and 42 Abu Sayyaf members dead on last Saturday.

    Hours after the military warned of sympathy attacks on Tuesday, an improvised bomb exploded in Zamboanga City, wounding 14 civilians. Authorities said the bombing was part of the Abu Sayyaf tactics to divert the military's attention.