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2 killed in bombing in troubled south Philippines

Monday, 31 December 2018 2:21 PM [ Last Update: Monday, 31 December 2018 7:07 PM ]

Filipino police officers investigate at the site of an explosion outside a shopping mall in Cotabato City on the southern island of Mindanao on December 31, 2018. (Photo by AFP)

Two people have been killed and around 35 others wounded after a bomb went off outside a shopping mall in the southern Philippine city of Cotabato, police say.

The explosion prompted officers to search the mall, leading to the discovery of another suspected bomb which they destroyed, said local police spokesman Chief Inspector Rowell Zafra.

A female street vendor and one man were killed, while many of the wounded were shoppers buying goods for traditional New Year festivities.

Three of the wounded were in critical condition, officials said.

Scattered debris, including items sold for New Year celebrations, such as horns made from cardboard and plastic, gifts and a bloody slipper lay at the mall's entrance where the bombing took place.

Windows of surrounding buildings were shattered by the blast, eyewitnesses said.

Investigators could not immediately say what kind of bomb was used or name any suspects.

However, local army commander Major General Cirilito Sobejana told ABS-CBN television that an individual was seen carrying a box which he left in front of the mall. It exploded a few seconds later.

Filipino police officers investigate at the site of an explosion outside a shopping mall in Cotabato City on the southern island of Mindanao on December 31, 2018. (Photo by AFP)

Sobejana said the bomb had the signature of a "Daesh group," referring to local extremists who have declared allegiance to the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group.

He said the military had some "leads" in the incident but did not elaborate.

In September and August, bombs went off in Isulan town, 77 kilometers (48 miles) south of Cotabato, killing at least three people.

President Rodrigo Duterte put the southern Mindanao region under martial rule until the end of 2018 after pro-Daesh militants seized the city of Marawi last year.

Earlier this month, legislators approved an extension of this martial law until the end of 2019.

(Source: AFP)

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