Wednesday, March 02, 2005
Police found 2 homemade bombs in GenSan mall (11:20 a.m.)
MANILA -- Two incendiary bombs were found in a newly opened mall in General Santos City where a bomb attack by suspected Muslim militants killed three people last month.
It was not immediately clear if terrorists were involved in the latest incident, police said Wednesday.
A sales clerk found the homemade bombs late Tuesday in the pockets of clothing on display at the KCC Mall in General Santos, Chief Supt. Antonio Billones said.
The bombs, including one attached to a cellular phone and containing black powder, could have triggered a fire had they exploded but were not powerful enough to create substantial damage or kill people, Billones said.
Investigators could not immediately say if the explosives were placed by pranksters, extortionists or Muslim militants, who have been suspected in past bombings in General Santos, about 1,030 kilometers southeast of Manila.
Bombs went off almost simultaneously in General Santos, Davao and Makati City on Feb. 14, killing eight people and injuring more than 100 others in attacks that Abu Sayyaf Muslim extremist guerrillas said they staged to retaliate against a major military offensive against Muslim rebels on southern Jolo island.
Two suspected Abu Sayyaf rebels have been arrested and charged in the Valentine's Day attacks.
The al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf, which is on a US list of terrorist organizations, has been linked to past deadly bombings, kidnappings for ransom and beheadings. (AP) |
