Suspect in twin explosions at Jolo cathedral seen on CCTV – officials
MANILA, Philippines — The identity of one of the suspects in the double explosion at a Jolo cathedral in Sulu that left 20 people killed and at least 100 others injured was caught on a nearby closed-circuit television camera (CCTV camera), authorities revealed Monday.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said during a press briefing in Jolo that police investigators are already probing on the suspect.
Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said in the same press conference that investigators also “are looking at a group” behind the bombing, citing information he received from the provincial police director of Sulu.
“We are looking at a group, of course, dito kasi there are several threat groups. I am sure hindi naman nagtatrabaho ‘yan ng isa-isa,” Albayalde said.
(We are looking at a group, of course, here because there are several threat groups. I am sure they won’t work alone.)
Disclosing details of their initial investigation, Albayalde said the substance used in the bombing was indeed large, noting shrapnel from the explosives reached several feet from the origin of the blasts.
Article continues after this advertisementHe also said the devices might have been activated through a cellphone, considering the timing of the explosions. The first blast rocked the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel around 8:58 a.m. Sunday, followed by another explosion at its parking lot around 12 to 15 seconds later.
Article continues after this advertisementAlbayalde further said authorities are also looking at possible lapses of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the PNP in securing the area prior to the incident.
“This will, of course, serve as a lesson sa atin. Probably dahilan nito kaya nakalusot iyang ganyan because several years back ay walang ganitong incident,” he said.
(This will of course serve as a lesson to us. Maybe the reason why it happened because there were no similar incidents from several years ago.)
The military earlier said it is looking at the Ajang-Ajang faction linked to the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) as the perpetrator of the bombings. Sulu is a stronghold of the ASG, an extremist group known for carrying out bombings, kidnappings, and beheadings.
But a report said the Islamic State group owned up to the deadly incident, citing the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors jihadist activities. /kga
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