UPDATE: 15 dead, dozens wounded in twin bombing in Jolo, Sulu:military
The bodies of victims (C) lie on the pavement as police and military personnel cordon off the site where an improvised bomb exploded next to a military vehicle in the town of Jolo on Sulu island on August 24, 2020. 15 people were killed and dozens wounded -- many of them soldiers or police -- in a twin bombing on August 24 on a southern Philippine island that is a stronghold of Islamist militants, officials said. Nickee BUTLANGAN / AFP
15 people were killed and dozens wounded -- including soldiers and police -- in a twin bombing Monday involving a suicide attacker on a southern Philippine island that is a stronghold of Islamist militants, officials said.
The attack 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.
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.
© Agence France-Presse
The attack 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.
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.
© Agence France-Presse
