IS claims MSU carnage — PNP brushes off ‘lone wolf’ theory

The Philippine National Police yesterday brushed aside theories that a lone suicide bomber perpetrated Sunday morning's bombing at Mindanao State University in Marawi City.

"There's no indication of something like that," PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo told a press briefing in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

She said that of the two persons they are looking at, one has been tagged as a local terrorist involved in previous bombings that targeted public utility buses.

On Sunday evening, talk went around Marawi City that a "lone wolf," purportedly a disgruntled ex-employee of the university, perpetrated the suicide bombing.

Islamic State militants earlier claimed responsibility for the deadly attack in Marawi, which was once held by Islamist terrorists for several months in 2017.

In the Telegram message app, the group admitted the attack saying that its members had detonated the bomb.

Based on initial investigation by authorities, an improvised explosive device was detonated 15 minutes into the Catholic mass officiated by Fr. Benigno Flores Jr.

Following a visit to the bombing site, Philippine National Police chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. formed a special investigation task group, even as the police in Lanao del Sur went on heightened alert.

A 60-millimeter mortar round was suspected to have been used in the attack.

No Hamas link

A Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao official, Atty. Raissa Jajurie, said 38 victims had been discharged from the hospital.

The authorities have yet to come up with a confirmed death toll, with an earlier report saying the number of fatalities reached 11, including the four who were hardest hit.

Armed Forces chief of staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. said security experts do not see a link between the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict and the MSU bombing.

Solidarity

"Talking with experts and analysts, including local Muslim leaders, they do not see a connection," said Brawner in a media briefing at Philippine Army headquarters in Marawi City.

"But we are not discounting that. We are looking at every angle in this," the AFP chief stressed.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Sunday said there were indications the Marawi attack was the handiwork of foreign terrorists.

From 23 May to 23 October 2017, Marawi City served as a battleground between the local terrorist group Maute and Philippine government forces.

Both the Maute and the Abu Sayyaf groups, along with the Daulah Islamiyah, are identified with the IS. Authorities had theorized that the MSU bombing may have been in retaliation for the killing of 11 DI members and one ASG leader last week.

Meanwhile, Israel, through its embassy in Manila, has joined other nations in denouncing the terror attack at Mindanao State University.

"The Embassy of Israel in Manila condemns the heinous act of terrorism perpetrated at Mindanao State University in Marawi City," the embassy said in a statement on Monday.

"Israel is in solidarity with the Philippine government and the Filipino people in the face of this despicable terrorist attack. Terrorism is a global threat that needs collective unity among nations to safeguard the well-being of all people and communities," it added.

The embassy also expressed its condolences to the families of the victims of the bombing.

Israel itself is still reeling from the 7 October terrorist attack by the Hamas terror group that killed some 1,200 of its citizens and some foreigners. Israel is presently routing Hamas in its Gaza enclave following the end of a week-long ceasefire to release hostages and captured personnel from both sides.

"Our hearts go out to the victims and their bereaved families, and we extend our deepest condolences and sympathy during this difficult time. We also pray for the swift recovery of those injured," the embassy said.

With Glen Jacob Jose and Nonoy Lacson