A Terrorist Act?

[Dave Hounddriver]

Sunday, October 9, 2011 ZAMBOANGA CITY (3rd Update) -- The twin bombings in this city Sunday are terrorist acts aimed to disrupt the celebration of the Zamboanga Hermosa Festival 2011, a top police official said. Suspected homemade bombs exploded shortly after noontime Sunday in a budget hotel and at a cockfighting arena, wounding at least 11 people, including four boxers, a referee and a bakeshop worker. The first explosion took place around 12:25 p.m. Sunday at the cockpit of San Roque village, six kilometers west of the city. Five people were injured. The second explosion happened around 12:30 p.m. Sunday at the second floor of the Red Palm Pension House in Guiwan village, 3.4 kilometers east of the city. "These is a terroristic act since we are celebrating here at ganito ang nangyari," Zamboanga City Police Director Edwin de Ocampo said. "This is a despicable act," Mayor Celso Lobregat said, as he condemned the incident. De Ocampo said they have not received bombing threats before the incident but there were reports about plans to conduct bombings in other places in Mindanao. De Ocampo said the bomb that exploded at San Roque cockpit was concealed in a "fighting cock box" and placed on the cockpit's left bleacher. The bomb the exploded at the Red Palm Pension House was left at Room 2-B on the second floor. Zamboanga City Police Office' Explosive Ordnance Demolition (EOD) chief Senior Inspector Cesar Memoracion said the bomb that exploded at the pension was a strong one, hinting it could be a five-kilo explosive. Memoracion said they have yet to establish whether the two bombs were cellphone-triggered. De Ocampo said his command will be augmented by forces from the Regional Public Safety Battalion in securing all the sites of activities of the Zamboanga Hermosa Festival 2011. The highlight of the festival is on October 12, the feast day of Our Lady of the Pillar, this city's patron saint. Meanwhile, City Health Officer Dr. Rodelin Agbulos said that seven of the victims are scheduled for discharge, while the remaining four will be admitted. (Sunnex)

Edited October 9, 2011 by Mr. Lee
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