Police retrieve 60-mm mortar shell fragments in MSU-Marawi bombing

MANILA, Philippines — Authorities are investigating the mortar shell fragments retrieved within the grounds of Mindanao State University in Marawi City following the deadly bomb attack to determine who is behind the blast, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).

PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said the provincial explosive canine unit (PECU) of Lanao del Sur police is already piecing together the fragments of the 60-mm mortar and likewise determining the device used to detonate the bomb.

“Nag-imbestiga na nga po yung PECU natin at binubuo nila yung fragments na na-recover sa crime scene at yung binigay pa lang information satin ay fragments ito ng 60-mm mortar,” Fajardo said in a press conference on Monday.

(PECU is already investigating and putting together the fragments of the 60-mm mortar recovered at the crime scene.)

“But as to the manner kung ano ba ‘yung naging triggering device natin, whether cellphone operated or battery operated, somehow will give us an idea kung sino yung grupo,” she added.

(But as for the triggering device, we are still trying to determine whether they operated it using a cellphone or a device with a battery. Discovering which device they used will help us determine which group orchestrated the blast.)

Based on a police report, the blast that occurred during a morning Mass on Sunday, primarily attended by students, killed four people and injured 50 persons, who were brought to the Amai Pak-Pak Medical Center.

Earlier on Monday, police said they are looking into two “persons of interest” in the bomb attack.

Police Regional Office Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR) assistant chief Lieutenant Eirene Mazon opted not to reveal the names of the individuals but said they are residents of Lanao del Sur.

The PNP said it had put its police regional offices in Mindanao on red alert status and placed the National Capital Region under heightened alert status as a precautionary measure.

Also on Monday, the Islamic State militants claimed responsibility for the bomb attack, as reported by Reuters. It likewise revealed that the group members allegedly had detonated the explosive.

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