At least 14 people were killed and 75 wounded including
members of the security forces and civilians –in twin bombings on 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.
Five soldiers and four civilians were killed in
the first blast, when an improvised explosive
device attached to a motorcycle parked
outside a supermarket blew up, Lieutenant
General Corleto Vinluan told reporters.
Sixteen soldiers were wounded in the
explosion, which happened at around midday.
Around 20 civilians were also hurt, Lieutenant
Colonel Ronaldo Mateo said, citing the local mayor.
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, Mateo said.
“Our soldiers are conducting security
operations. That was the time that the
improvised explosive device detonated,” he
said.
There was a second blast a short time later in
the same street when a female suicide attacker
blew herself up as police cordoned off the area,
killing one person and wounding around six
officers, Vinluan said.
A solider had been trying to apprehend the
bomber when she detonated her explosives, he
added.
Abu Sayyaf was “most probably” behind the
double bombing, Mateo said.
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 explosions 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.
