15 killed, dozens wounded as twin blasts hit southern Philippines
Updated 21:33, 24-Aug-2020
CGTN

At least 15 people were killed, including seven soldiers and a suicide bomber, and 75 others wounded in twin blasts in Sulu province, southern Philippines, around noon on Monday, the military said. 

Major General Corleto Vinluan, commanding general of the military's Western Mindanao Command based in Zamboanga City, said that the first explosion occurred around 11:55 a.m. local time when a motorcycle bomb went off in front of a grocery store along a busy street in Jolo, the capital of Sulu province.

While troops were cordoning off the first bomb site, "a suicide bomber attempted to penetrate the area and blasted himself" at around 1:00 p.m. local time, the military said.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque issued a statement condemning the bombing in the strongest possible terms and expressed condolences to the families of those killed in the explosion.

"Metro Jolo was locked down to prevent further casualties and preempt any other untoward incident," the military said, adding that "combat clearing operations and investigations are currently being conducted to identify the perpetrators."

In the statement, Roque also said the authorities are conducting an investigation of the incident and urged Jolo's residents to stay vigilant and report suspicious personalities and unattended items in their areas.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the biggest attack in the southern Philippines ever since January 2019, when a double suicide bombing at a Jolo church killed more than 20 people and wounded over 100.

(With input from Xinhua) 

(Cover photo via Philippines police)