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| Manila resort in lockdown after explosions and gunshots | Manila resort in lockdown after explosions and gunshots |
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| Armed police have been deployed to an entertainment resort in the Philippines’ capital Manila after gunfire and explosions were heard inside the building. Several people were injured before officers gained control of the situation early on Friday morning. | Armed police have been deployed to an entertainment resort in the Philippines’ capital Manila after gunfire and explosions were heard inside the building. Several people were injured before officers gained control of the situation early on Friday morning. |
| A Filipino Islamic State operative claimed responsibility, according to the Site Intelligence Group, a US-based organisation that monitors militant websites. Last week, the Philippine president, Rodrigo Duterte, imposed martial law across the southern region of Mindanao, arguing that the measure was necessary to crush a rising threat posed by Isis-linked rebels. | |
| Within hours, the Philippines police chief said that, as far as he was concerned, there was no indication that the incident was a terror attack but the lone gunman was still at large. Ronald dela Rosa said on DZMM radio that the man, who appeared to be acting alone, walked into one of the gambling rooms and fired an M4 rifle at a large television screen then poured gasoline onto a gambling table and set it alight. He said the man then fired again at a stock room containing gambling chips and filled a backpack with them. | |
| A fire was still burning on the second floor of the building on Friday morning, the local Fire Protection Bureau’s spokesman, Ian Manalo, said. The military’s spokesman, Restituto Padilla, said: “We are monitoring the situation. The police are on top of the situation. We will issue a statement when we have a complete picture of the incident.” | A fire was still burning on the second floor of the building on Friday morning, the local Fire Protection Bureau’s spokesman, Ian Manalo, said. The military’s spokesman, Restituto Padilla, said: “We are monitoring the situation. The police are on top of the situation. We will issue a statement when we have a complete picture of the incident.” |
| The Philippine Red Cross said it had taken three people to hospital after the incident, which happened at around 2am local time (6pm GMT). Pictures circulating on social media showing smoke pouring out of a building at Resort World Manila, which is close to the city’s airport. | The Philippine Red Cross said it had taken three people to hospital after the incident, which happened at around 2am local time (6pm GMT). Pictures circulating on social media showing smoke pouring out of a building at Resort World Manila, which is close to the city’s airport. |
| The Manila Times quoted Fernando Atienza, a representative of the aid organisation, as saying that at least 25 people had been injured and some people had suffered serious injuries because they jumped from the second floor of the hotel. The resort’s chief operating officer, Stephen Reilly, confirmed that shots had been fired and that the building was in lockdown. | The Manila Times quoted Fernando Atienza, a representative of the aid organisation, as saying that at least 25 people had been injured and some people had suffered serious injuries because they jumped from the second floor of the hotel. The resort’s chief operating officer, Stephen Reilly, confirmed that shots had been fired and that the building was in lockdown. |
| “I heard many, many gunshots,” Julio Silva, a witness who managed to dash out of the mall complex, told DZMM radio network. Other witnesses who spoke to local radio stations said several gunmen had been seen in the complex. | “I heard many, many gunshots,” Julio Silva, a witness who managed to dash out of the mall complex, told DZMM radio network. Other witnesses who spoke to local radio stations said several gunmen had been seen in the complex. |
| The news channel, ANC, said there were two gunmen wearing masks and black clothes. At about 3,30am local time, it said, the gunshots stopped, but the gunmen were not believed to have been captured. The information could not be immediately verified. | The news channel, ANC, said there were two gunmen wearing masks and black clothes. At about 3,30am local time, it said, the gunshots stopped, but the gunmen were not believed to have been captured. The information could not be immediately verified. |
| A spokesman for the nearby Ninoy Aquino airport told the Guardian: “Terminal three has been locked down because it is near the Resort World. We still don’t know how this will affect flights.” Terminal three manages international and domestic flights. | A spokesman for the nearby Ninoy Aquino airport told the Guardian: “Terminal three has been locked down because it is near the Resort World. We still don’t know how this will affect flights.” Terminal three manages international and domestic flights. |
| Pahayag ni Resorts World Manila Chief Operating Officer Stephen Reilly. pic.twitter.com/8aMBZ5OKGG | Pahayag ni Resorts World Manila Chief Operating Officer Stephen Reilly. pic.twitter.com/8aMBZ5OKGG |
| The apparent attack in Manila follows a fierce 10-day battle in the southern Philippine city of Marawi, about 500 miles (800km) south of Manila, where a local militant faction sympathetic to Islamic State rampaged through the streets on 23 May. The army has deployed helicopter gunships and artillery fire to try to dislodge the gunmen, but they have held a large section of the city. | The apparent attack in Manila follows a fierce 10-day battle in the southern Philippine city of Marawi, about 500 miles (800km) south of Manila, where a local militant faction sympathetic to Islamic State rampaged through the streets on 23 May. The army has deployed helicopter gunships and artillery fire to try to dislodge the gunmen, but they have held a large section of the city. |
| Over the past week, security forces have been deployed to other cities in Mindanao province, concerned that the militants may attempt to launch attacks outside Marawi. | Over the past week, security forces have been deployed to other cities in Mindanao province, concerned that the militants may attempt to launch attacks outside Marawi. |
| The clashes started after security forces tried to capture Isnilon Hapilon, an Islamist militant leader who is the subject of a $5m (£3.88m) reward offered by the FBI and endorsed by Isis. | The clashes started after security forces tried to capture Isnilon Hapilon, an Islamist militant leader who is the subject of a $5m (£3.88m) reward offered by the FBI and endorsed by Isis. |
| This is how close the casino in the Philippines where explosions and gunshots have been heard is to the international airport. pic.twitter.com/ructamL9hm | This is how close the casino in the Philippines where explosions and gunshots have been heard is to the international airport. pic.twitter.com/ructamL9hm |
| Hapilon is believed to be a senior leader in a coalition of insurgent groups in the Philippines, although their operational links with Islamic State in the Middle East remain unclear. | Hapilon is believed to be a senior leader in a coalition of insurgent groups in the Philippines, although their operational links with Islamic State in the Middle East remain unclear. |
| Duterte declared martial law shortly after the Isis-linked militants attacked. The clashes there have left at least 171 people dead. Duterte said last week he may need to declare martial law across the rest of the country if the threat spread. | Duterte declared martial law shortly after the Isis-linked militants attacked. The clashes there have left at least 171 people dead. Duterte said last week he may need to declare martial law across the rest of the country if the threat spread. |
| He has said he fears that the “terrible ideology” of Isis will spread on Mindanao, an island of 22 million people, and has warned that it could become a haven for supporters fleeing Iraq and Syria. | He has said he fears that the “terrible ideology” of Isis will spread on Mindanao, an island of 22 million people, and has warned that it could become a haven for supporters fleeing Iraq and Syria. |
| The US president, Donald Trump, passed on the thoughts and prayers of the American people to those impacted by the incident. Speaking in the White House Rose Garden, Trump said: “It is really very sad as to what’s going on throughout the world with terror.” He added that he was “closely monitoring the situation” and would continue to provide updates. | The US president, Donald Trump, passed on the thoughts and prayers of the American people to those impacted by the incident. Speaking in the White House Rose Garden, Trump said: “It is really very sad as to what’s going on throughout the world with terror.” He added that he was “closely monitoring the situation” and would continue to provide updates. |