At least 14 people were killed and 75 wounded -- including members of the security forces and civilians -- in twin bombings Monday involving a suicide attacker on a southern Philippine island that is a stronghold of militants, officials said.
The apparently coordinated attacks happened in Jolo in Muslim-majority Sulu, where government-backed security forces have long been fighting the Abu Sayyaf group. Seven soldiers, a police officer, and six civilians were killed in the two bombings, the first at around midday when an improvised explosive device attached to a motorcycle parked outside a supermarket blew up, Lieutenant General Corleto Vinluan said.
That was followed by a second blast a short time later in the same street whena suicide attacker blew herself up as security forces cordoned off the area, Vinluan said. A soldier had been trying to apprehend the bomber when she detonated her explosives, he added.
A total of 48 civilians were also wounded along with 21 soldiers and six police. A soldier saw a person leaving the motorbike outside the grocery store "where there were a lot of people" including members of the military. It immediately detonated, Lieutenant Colonel Ronaldo Mateo said.
"Our soldiers are conducting security operations. That was the time that the improvised explosive device detonated," he said. Abu Sayyaf was "most probably" behind the double bombing, Mateo said.
Listed by the United States as a terrorist organisation, Abu Sayyaf is a loose network of militants blamed for the Philippines´ worst terror attacks as well as kidnappings of foreign tourists and Christian missionaries.
They also have ties to Daesh militants seeking to set up a caliphate in Southeast Asia. Monday´s attacks come after the arrest earlier this month of an Abu Sayyaf leader on the southern island of Mindanao.
Security forces had been on alert for possible reprisal attacks after detaining Abduljihad Susukan, who is accused of kidnapping and beheading several foreigners.
He has been charged with 23 murders, five kidnappings and six attempted murders, police have said. President Rodrigo Duterte´s spokesman Harry Roque condemned the "dastardly attacks" and issued condolences to the families and loved ones of those killed.
"We call on the residents of Jolo to stay vigilant and report suspi
Philippine Red Cross Chief Richard Gordon said the explosion hit at approximately noon (04:00 GMT) on Monday in the capital of Sulu, one of the country's southernmost provinces.
Gordon, who is also a senator, said that a motorcycle loaded with improvised explosive device went off near a military truck. The Red Cross office in Jolo is located near the blast area.
As police were cordoning off the site, a second blast hit injuring several government forces.
According to reports, at least 17 government troops were also injured in the two explosions.
The blasts happened not far from the site of a major explosion that killed more than 20 people inside a Catholic church in early 2019, according to state-run PTV channel .Images posted by PTV on social media on Monday showed debris and bodies lying on a street next to a military vehicle.
No one has claimed responsibility for the attacks.
In a statement, Philippine police chief Gen Archie Francisco Gamboa said he has ordered an investigation into the deadly incident, adding that all perpetrators should be held accountable for the crime.
Sulu is known as the stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf Group, an armed group that has allied itself with ISIL (ISIS).
Abu Sayyaf has long been battling for independence in the southern region of Mindanao, which they regard as their ancestral homeland dating back to the pre-Spanish colonial period.
The group is notorious for kidnappings, robberies and deadly bombings.
In June, four soldiers were killed in Jolo following an alleged confrontation with police officers, igniting tensions between the two government forces.
The soldiers were reportedly pursuing suspected armed fighters, when they were stopped by police leading to the deadly incident.
