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PHILIPPINES-UNREST NEWSERIES
14 dead, scores wounded in twin bombings in Philippines
JOLO, Philippines, Aug 24, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – At least 14 people were
killed and 75 wounded — including members of the security forces and
civilians — in twin bombings Monday involving a suicide attacker on a
southern Philippine island that is a stronghold of Islamist militants,
officials said.
The apparently coordinated attacks happened in Jolo in
Muslim-majority Sulu, where government-backed security forces have
long been fighting the Abu Sayyaf group.
Seven soldiers, a police officer, and six civilians were killed in
the two bombings, the first at around midday when an improvised
explosive device attached to a motorcycle parked outside a supermarket
blew up, Lieutenant General Corleto Vinluan said.
That was followed by a second blast a short time later in the same
street when a suicide attacker blew herself up as security forces
cordoned off the area, Vinluan said.
A soldier had been trying to apprehend the bomber when she
detonated her explosives, he added.
A total of 48 civilians were also wounded along with 21 soldiers
and six police.
A soldier saw a person leave the motorbike outside the grocery
store “where there were a lot of people” including members of the
military. It immediately detonated, Lieutenant Colonel Ronaldo Mateo
said.
“Our soldiers are conducting security operations. That was the time
that the improvised explosive device detonated,” he said.
Abu Sayyaf was “most probably” behind the double bombing, Mateo said.
– Blasts follow arrest –
Listed by the United States as a terrorist organisation, Abu Sayyaf
is a loose network of Islamic militants blamed for the Philippines’
worst terror attacks as well as kidnappings of foreign tourists and
Christian missionaries. They also have ties to Islamic State
militants seeking to set up a caliphate in Southeast Asia.
Monday’s attacks come after the arrest earlier this month of an Abu
Sayyaf leader on the southern island of Mindanao.
Security forces had been on alert for possible reprisal attacks
after detaining Abduljihad Susukan, who is accused of kidnapping and
beheading several foreigners.
He has been charged with 23 murders, five kidnappings and six
attempted murders, police have said.
President Rodrigo Duterte’s spokesman Harry Roque condemned the
“dastardly attacks” and issued condolences to the families and loved
ones of those killed.
“We call on the residents of Jolo to stay vigilant and report
suspicious personalities and unattended items in their areas,” Roque
said.
The Philippine Coast Guard issued a “red alert” for Sulu and
several other areas in the restive south as it assists the military
and police in responding to the incident.
The explosions happened near a Catholic cathedral in Jolo where two
suicide bombers blew themselves up in January 2019 killing 21 people.
It was blamed on a group linked to Abu Sayyaf.
BSS/AFP/MRU/1914hrs