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Thursday, August 11, 2005
Zamboanga rocked by blasts; dozens hurt
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- At least 16 people were injured in the southern port city of Zamboanga after two bombs believed planted by Abu Sayyaf terrorists exploded late Wednesday.
The first bomb, planted under a parked mini-van in downtown Zamboanga, exploded around 7:20 p.m., wounding four civilians. The powerful blast destroyed the van completely and damaged two small buildings nearby.
A second explosion ripped through the second floor of another building just 50 meters away from the main police headquarters in the busy business district. At least a dozen people were wounded in the blast, but independent sources said the casualty toll could be higher.
Other reports said as much as two dozens were injured in the twin bombings blamed by authorities on the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group. Witnesses said they saw a cloud of black smoke billowed from the second floor of the damaged building.
The blast tore through the second floor that houses the St. Anne's budget motel. Below the motel was a Chinese fastfood restaurant Chowking and several smaller shops that were also destroyed by the explosion.
Bomb experts sift through the debris, searching for clues on what kind of explosives were used in the attacks.
Paramedics rescued trapped and wounded motel guests from the second floor. The facade of the building was destroyed.
Shattered glass and twisted metals and debris littered the streets.
The shock waves from the explosions destroyed display windows of several shops around the blast scenes. Fear gripped many civilians who were rushing to their homes at the time of the explosions.
Some 100 soldiers and policemen, backed by armored vehicles, secured downtown Zamboanga until security officials declared it was safe.
Last week, security forces in Zamboanga City arrested Abu Sayyaf bomb maker Alex Alvarez, blamed for the series of bombings since 2002 that killed dozens of people, including a US soldier participating in an anti-terror training with Filipino troops.
Authorities suspect the attacks were in retaliation for his arrest.
The United States listed the Abu Sayyaf as a foreign terrorist organization and froze its assets abroad.
Manila said the Abu sayyaf has links with the al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiya terror groups.
(August 11, 2005 issue)
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