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GUNFIRE WAS HEARD at a hotel and a casino resort in the Philippine capital, and the Islamic State group (IS) quickly claimed responsibility.
People ran screaming out of Resorts World Manila, which is across a road from one of the main terminals of the Philippines’ international airport, according to television footage.
“Resorts World Manila is currently on lockdown following reports of gunfire from unidentified men,” the company said on its Twitter account.
“The company is working closely with the Philippine National Police to ensure that all guests and employees are safe.”
IS said “lonewolf soldiers” from its group carried out the attack, according to the SITE Intelligence Group that monitors terrorist organisations.
There were no immediate reports of fatalities or injuries.
Police surrounded the complex following the reports of the gunfire, which occurred just after midnight.
“I was about to return to the second floor from my break when I saw people running. Some hotel guests said someone yelled ‘ISIS’,” Maricel Navaro, an employee of Resorts World, told DZMM radio.
ISIS is another acronym for the Islamic State group.
“Guests were screaming. We went to the basement locker room and hid there. People were screaming, guests and employees were in panic,” Navaro said.
“When we smelled smoke, we decided to go for the exit in the carpark. That’s where we got out. Before we exited, we heard two gunshots and there was thick smoke on the ground floor.”
Militant rampage
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte imposed martial law last week across the southern region of Mindanao to crush what he said was a rising threat of Islamic State there.
He declared martial law shortly after militants went on a rampage through the southern city of Marawi, which is about 800 kilometres south of Manila.
Security forces are still battling the militants in Marawi, and the clashes there have left at least 171 people dead.
Duterte said last week he may need to declare martial law across the rest of the country if the terrorism threat spread.
A Muslim separatist rebellion in the southern Philippines has killed more than 120,000 people since the 1970s.
The main Muslim rebel groups have signed accords with the government aimed at forging lasting peace, giving up their separatist ambitions in return for autonomy.
However a range of hardline militants groups have rejected the peace process and in recent years have sought to unite behind IS.
One of those groups is the Abu Sayyaf, an infamous kidnap-for-ransom gang that has abducted hundreds of Filipinos and foreigners in the southern Philippines since the early 1990s.
It was also accused of being involved in the bombing of a ferry in Manila Bay in 2004 that claimed more than 100 lives, one of the nation’s deadliest terrorist attacks.
One of the leaders of the Abu Sayyaf, Isnilon Hapilon, is regarded as the new head of IS in the Philippines.
He is believed to be among those fighting in Marawi, military chiefs have said.
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Philippines will sort them out in no time
How can other religions move to countries and not cause havoc and mayhem? Can you imagine scientologists blowing up and shooting innocent people? They’d be shut down in a heartbeat so why is the religion of peace tolerated? I’ll tell you why. You’d get labeled a racist by people who hate labels. Can you imagine Jews fighting for Nazi rights just as liberals fight for Islam. This is what happens when you get brainwashed people who swallow mainstream media with an agenda. Wonder why there are no bombings in places like Japan? A tiny Muslim population that’s why. World leaders in common sense and the blindingly obvious.
@SteveW: perhaps tolerated because it is not responsible, it is the social outcast(s) who islamized their radical view, Japan is not immune but western media coverage is more intense here and gives account in English language, you won’t see CNN Japan being tuned into when something happens in Tokyo or anywhere else for that matter
Red not being funny here but what on earth has media coverage or speaking English got to do with anything? What about other countries that have to put up with these large minority”outcasts” you’re defending? Burma, Kashmir, China, Thailand, Kenya, Ceychnya, Phillipines to name a few. And that’s not including Europe and US.
@Red Marauder: it seems like every country islam has settled in there is serious terrorism problem now south Philippines is exploding now into serious violence. south sudan south Thailand nearly all of Africa all across middle east there is major wars going … after watching primtime on RTE tonight on Islamic extremists i am becoming very fearful for my family future and myself and like all other irish people throughout the island of Ireland…..
@Bobby wilson: And that was on RTE , who had an article about everyones favorite troll Katie Hopkins being sacked for saying there is a problem with islam . https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2017/0526/878159-katie-hopkins/
@SteveW: it is simple to install fear you need widespread coverage, so they choose targets which will be in the news, it is repeated everytime, a mall, a concert, twin towers etc, the density of media coverage is highest in Western countries where English is universal
@Remy: everyone can quote the Koran, there is no central regulation, you not need to be a scholar for that, now how you sell it or interpret it is different, there are far more peaceful Muslims than what you hear about in the news
@Red Marauder: ”there are far more peaceful Muslims than what you hear about in the news” . Phew ! Thank god you said that , I was thinking it was the 75% were radical , Thank heavens it’s only the other 25% .
doing some basic math, we get that about 006625% not even close to your estimates
@SteveW: 110%
@Remy: people like you and your ilk are just part of the problem
”Tis gonna be a red Ramadan
This atrocity and outrage will be handled in the Phillipines but it will scare the wits out of us Irish and get us highly exercised.
Many Irish live in fear and terror although we are far from a prime target.
@Tony Daly: I actually can’t think of anyone I know who lives in fear of an ISIS attack. I do know plenty who agree we should do our bit to help those trying to escape the terror of these animals while also protecting ourselves by having proper checks on those entering our country.
@Tony Daly: As far I’m aware no one lives in fear of isis in Ireland , but it’s only right that we examine it’s core ideology . Prime time has a segment on isis in Ireland , which obviously doesn’t exist . Whaaaatt !
@Jane: I am taking lots of the alarmist comments at face value. It could be just posturing of course but after each atrocity the alarmism expressed is voluble and even hysterical.
@Ken Hayden: of course it may just be intentional alarmism and deliberate exaggeration of threat on the part of those who comment on Ireland as a target of ISIS.
I rember the hysterical and emotive comments after previous outrages in Europe predicting Ireland as the next target.
It may just be playing up by those who wish to stir up fear and hate or else the Irish are an especially timid nation.
@Tony Daly: And of course , it just might not be deliberate exaggeration .
It cannot be said enough , not all muslims are terrorists , but in among them , there are people who can be , and are radicalized . Denying there is no threat is not a solution .
@Tony Daly: it’s not fear. Tony or alarmist comments. It’s frustration that the empty vessels that make the most noise ie a small minority of do Gooders that get listened to because they shout racist and the pure frustration at the apologists that are so mind numbingly stupid that they get listened to by policy makers
@Tony Daly: why is their a constant down playing on all this Islamic terrorism across the globe by far left supporters by making out its western countries fault for making Islamic people angry.. Their is attacks on churches in Egypt /Nigeria /Pakistan /Iraq /Syria and many many more soon their will be no more Christians in the middle east except Israel…..
@Bobby wilson: 6 Things that cause islamic terrorism .
Intolerance .
Unemployment .
Poor quality council housing .
Not enough diversity on the BBC .
Islamophobic tweets .
Katie Hopkins .
Things that don’t cause islamic terrorism .
The ancient holy book which promises a blissful eternity in the afterlife for anyone who wages deadly jihad against the infidel .
I’m here in Manila. The chief of cops is on tv saying it was some lad trying to rob chips from the casino. Very much doubt it was ISIS related.
@Richie Kennedy: isis claimed responsibility?
@Jackson Bollovks: When the chips are down .
@Richie Kennedy: any more info Richie? My mum is on Negros at the moment but flying to Manila on Saturday to head home Sunday. Slightly concerned
@Maria ✏️: I’m living in Makati Maria, a city in Metro Manila. No updates but nothing to be concerned about. Might be some heightened security at the airport which is a good thing.
@Maria ✏️: Flights are delayed alright so she could miss a connection. The security in the airport is always tight so I wouldn’t worry too much. It seems to have been a lone gunman trying to steal gambling chips.
@Jackson Bollovks: I’d say they would claim responsibility for anything to sow fear. Doesn’t appear to be a terrorism incident based on the information available.
Casino Royal-Q’aeda
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