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Shooting and Explosions Erupt at Casino Resort in Manila Shooting, Fire and Panic at Big Casino Resort in Manila
(about 2 hours later)
MANILA — Wounded and frightened guests fled a shooting and fire early Friday morning at the country’s biggest hotel casino resort, as tactical police units flooded the area amid fears of a possible terrorist attack. MANILA — Police officers with bomb-sniffing dogs stormed the Philippines’ largest hotel-casino resort early Friday morning, hours after at least one gunman invaded and sent panicked guests fleeing amid fears of a terrorist attack.
Social media photos and videos from the scene showed people leaving Resorts World Manila in the Pasay City neighborhood of the Philippine capital, some carried away on stretchers. The sounds of gunfire could be heard. The sound of gunfire and explosions were heard in the vicinity of the hotel, the Resorts World Manila in the Pasay City neighborhood of the Philippine capital, and acrid gray smoke was billowing from the complex more than three hours after patrons escaped at the first sounds of trouble.
Acrid gray smoke was billowing from the complex hours after patrons had fled. The police sealed off the area and the hotel was placed in lockdown as officers searched the complex. But Ronald dela Rosa, director-general of the Philippines National Police, downplayed the terrorism fears, saying the attack appeared to have been carried out by one gunman armed with an assault rifle who shot a television and set fire to a table.
Resorts Manila said on its Twitter account that it was “currently on lockdown following reports of gunfire from unidentified men” and “we ask for your prayers during these difficult times.” He also said robbery may have been his motive, and that no deaths or injuries from gunshots were reported.
At least 25 people were injured and taken to hospitals, a spokesman for the Pasay Chapter of the Philippine Red Cross told the Manila Times. Some of the wounded were injured jumping from the hotel’s second floor balconies to escape the shooting, the spokesman, Fernando Atienza told the paper. Stephen Reilly, chief operating officer of Resorts World Manila, said “we’re only looking for one suspect” who was believed armed and lurking inside.
A police officer at the Pasay City Tactical Operations Center said SWAT teams were at the resort. ” “We don’t know the casualties,” the officer said. “It’s an ongoing operation.” He also said all guests had been accounted for and were safe, although witnesses said some patrons who had fled were seen carried away on stretchers.
Local news media reported that explosions had been heard coming from the vicinity of the hotel, which is across a road from the city’s international airport. At least 25 people were injured and taken to hospitals, a spokesman for the Pasay Chapter of the Philippine Red Cross was quoted as saying by the Manila Times. Some of the wounded were injured jumping from the hotel’s second floor balconies to escape, the spokesman, Fernando Atienza, was quoted as saying.
Resorts World Manila is the largest casino resort in the country, according to its website. Resorts Manila said earlier on its Twitter account that it was “currently on lockdown following reports of gunfire from unidentified men” and “we ask for your prayers during these difficult times.”
“We have evacuated the building to make sure that our patrons and our staff are safe,” Stephen Reilly, the resort’s chief operating officer told reporters. “At this time that’s the only information I can give you. The building is totally in lockdown state, until we completely clear the area.” Witnesses described a chaotic scene, and social media buzzed with conjecture that the resort had been the target of a terrorism assault. The Philippines has been on edge over an Islamist insurgency in the south of the country.
Mr. Reilly said he could not confirm the number of assailants involved in the attack, or if they had yet been captured or killed. “Many people were running out of the resort,” said Manuel Reyes, 25, an employee at the nearby Remington Hotel. “There were also gunshots fired. We thought that it was ordinary crime. But we are hearing from the responding policemen that armed men attacked the hotel.”
Asked if the attack resulted from a lapse in security, Mr. Reilly said “that will be investigated later.” Mr. Reyes said he had helped two women run from the hotel, before going back to assist an older man.
The authorities have not yet confirmed who may be behind the attack, but Rita Katz, director of the Site Intelligence Group, which tracks extremist propaganda, wrote on Twitter that a Filipino operative of the Islamic State had said “lone wolf soldiers” were responsible. “The man told me, ‘Please help. There are many armed men inside.’ At that point I realized it was more than just an ordinary emergency.”
A police officer at the Pasay City Tactical Operations Center said SWAT teams at the resort had no information on any casualties and described it as an “ongoing operation.”
In a statement, Kim Molitas, a spokeswoman for the National Capitol Regional Police, implored residents not to share information about the hotel on social media, asking locals to “help keep people inside Resorts World and our police safe.”
Although there was no confirmation of who was behind the attack, President Trump described it as an act of terrorism.
“It’s really very sad about what’s going on throughout the world with terror,” Mr. Trump said at the start of his news conference at the White House on withdrawing the United States from the climate-change agreement.
Rita Katz, director of the Site Intelligence Group, which tracks extremist propaganda, wrote on Twitter that a Filipino operative of the Islamic State had said “lone wolf soldiers” were responsible.
Since May, the country’s military has been locked in a pitched battle against Islamist groups allied with the Islamic State on the restive southern island of Mindanao. President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law there and warned that terrorist incidents could spread through the country.Since May, the country’s military has been locked in a pitched battle against Islamist groups allied with the Islamic State on the restive southern island of Mindanao. President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law there and warned that terrorist incidents could spread through the country.
The Mindanao fighting has been centered around the city of Marawi, where thousands of residents have fled amid the mayhem. Clashes escalated last week between the security forces and members of the Abu Sayyaf extremist group who have aligned themselves with the Islamic State.The Mindanao fighting has been centered around the city of Marawi, where thousands of residents have fled amid the mayhem. Clashes escalated last week between the security forces and members of the Abu Sayyaf extremist group who have aligned themselves with the Islamic State.
The military advanced into Marawi after having received reports that Isnilon Hapilon, an Abu Sayyaf leader who has declared fealty to the Islamic State, had been spotted in the area.The military advanced into Marawi after having received reports that Isnilon Hapilon, an Abu Sayyaf leader who has declared fealty to the Islamic State, had been spotted in the area.