PAGADIAN CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / 22 Aug) – Philippine police found an improvised explosive device inside a commuter bus during an inspection Tuesday in the southern city Pagadian, about 210 kilometers from Zamboanga City where a bomb attack injured at least 14 people.
The IED was recovered before it was to explode midnight Tuesday inside the bus which came from Zamboanga City, a police report said.
The report said the device was attached to a timer hidden in a luggage. No passengers claimed ownership of the luggage and police have made no arrest.
The bus was on its way to Cagayan de Oro City in northern Mindanao.
Maj. Gen. Nehemias Pajarito, commander of the Army's 1st Infantry Division, said he sent a team of explosive experts to disarm the bomb.
"We are investigating who were behind this attempt to blow up the bus and the military is closely working with police authorities to prevent terrorism and protect the public," he told the Mindanao Examiner.
A powerful bomb explosion late Tuesday in downtown Zamboanga City has been blamed by intelligence officials to the Abu Sayyaf, implicated in the spate of terrorism and kidnappings of foreigners in the southern Philippines.
Police and military have tightened security in the restive region following Tuesday's blast. Security forces were battling Abu Sayyaf militants and insurgents in Basilan and Jolo islands off Zamboanga City. (Mindanao Examiner)
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