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Gunman Found Dead After Panic at Casino Resort in Manila Terrorism Fear at Manila Casino May Have Been Caused by Irate Gambler
(35 minutes later)
MANILA — Hours after police officers with bomb-sniffing dogs stormed the Philippines’ largest hotel-casino resort early Friday morning, officials said a gunman, who sent guests running from the hotel in panic, was dead. MANILA — It started as a mass panic at the biggest hotel-casino resort in the Philippines over fears of an Islamic State terrorist attack. It ended with the police saying the assailant, who was killed, may have been a gambler with a grudge.
The gunman’s death ended an hourslong manhunt. Ronald dela Rosa, director-general of the Philippines National Police, downplayed fears of a terrorist attack, saying the shooting appeared to have been carried out by a single gunman armed with an assault rifle who shot a television and set fire to a table. Patrons jumped off balconies and fled as police officers with bomb-sniffing dogs searched Resorts World Manila complex for armed attackers early Friday. At least two dozen people were reported hurt in their rush to escape.
He also said robbery may have been his motive, and that no deaths or injuries from gunshots were reported. Hours later, the police and hotel officials said initial reports and rumors that Islamic State gunmen had invaded and set fire to the hotel casino were false, and that one man — possibly an irate gambler with a rifle and can of gasoline — had shot a television and set a table ablaze.
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. Ronald dela Rosa, director general of the national police, said his officers exchanged fire with the gunman early Friday as he hid inside the hotel. The gunman was found dead.
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. Mr. dela Rosa also said it was clear he was not a terrorist and instead possibly a “sore loser.”
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.” “As of now the situation is going back to normal,” he said. “We’ve cleared everything.”
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. dela Rosa’s description punctuated a cascade of confusing and sometimes contradictory accounts of what had unfolded at the casino hotel in the Pasay City neighborhood of the Philippine capital, just across from the international airport, starting just after midnight.
It came against the backdrop of a nation on edge because of a resurgent Islamist militant insurgency in the south, where President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law last week and said terrorist attacks were a possibility.
Early accounts on Twitter and in local media said gunmen may have stormed the casino hotel, and the sound of gunfire and explosions were heard. Patrons fled, and gray smoke was billowing from the building more than three hours later.
The police sealed off the area and the casino hotel was placed in lockdown as officers searched the complex.
Pleas by the police not to spread rumors via social media appeared to go largely ignored.
Mr. dela Rosa told reporters the terrorism angle made no sense considering the gunman’s behavior.
“In fact, he passed by people,” the chief said describing video recordings of the gunman taken inside. “He didn’t mind them. He was carrying a liter of gasoline, set the table on fire. Maybe he’s mad at gambling. Why did he steal the chips? Maybe he’s a sore loser.”
“It’s too early to tell, but so far as far as we are concerned there was no indication that it was ISIS,” added Mr. dela Rosa, using an acronym for the Islamic State. “If he were, he would have mowed down those gambling or exploded a bomb.”
Stephen Reilly, chief operating officer of Resorts World Manila, said all guests had been accounted for and were safe.
At least one employee of the casino hotel, however, appeared to be missing.
“Where is my daughter? I haven’t heard from her. Where is she?” Gil Emyongco, the father of Hazel Emyongco, a 29-year-old table supervisor, asked the police and witnesses gathered outside. He said he had been waiting for her to exit for more than five hours, but had yet to see her.
Another woman, who fled the casino hotel hours after the ordeal began, passed out on the sidewalk soon after making it outside.
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.
“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.”“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.”
Mr. Reyes said he had helped two women run from the hotel, before going back to assist an older man.Mr. Reyes said he had helped two women run from the hotel, before going back to assist an older man.
“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.”“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 casino hotel on social media, asking locals to “help keep people inside Resorts World and our police safe.”
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.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. “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 Paris 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.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 battle against Islamist groups allied with the Islamic State on the restive southern island of Mindanao.
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. That fighting has been centered on 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.