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| Southeast Asia |
| Abu Sayyaf blamed for Jolo bombings |
| 2006-03-28 |
| The military on Tuesday blamed the Abu Sayyaf Group for the latest bombing in Jolo, Sulu, which killed at least five people and injured 17. Brig. Gen. Jose Angel Honrado, Armed Forces spokesman, said the bombing is consistent with previous Abu Sayyaf attacks. He said five people were confirmed killed in the blast with 17 more injured. Wires reports earlier counted nine people killed and more than 20 injured. Tho bomb blast occurred at around 1:15 p.m., Monday, at the two-story Sulu Consumers Cooperative near the Mount Carmel Cathedral in Jolo Town Plaza. Authorities said the bomb was planted on the ground floor of the building. Initial military reports suggested that the bomb was made from a combination of chemicals, possibly ammonium nitrate and shrapnel. "It was probably ammonium nitrate, but we are still investigating the blast," Army Brig. Gen. Alexander Aleo said. Air Force Maj. Gamal Hayudini, a spokesman for the Southern Command, said troops sent to the blast site searched the area for explosives but so far have found nothing. "The situation is under control and authorities have tightened security in Jolo," Hayudini said in a separate interview. Two weeks ago in Jolo, Abu Sayyaf weapons courier Julkaram Hadjail was captured, and several militants killed in a separate clash. Security forces also recovered early this month a cache of Abu Sayyaf explosives and homemade bombs near a highway in Indanan, Jolo, where troops regularly pass. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |