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Thursday, August 21, 2008
9 hurt in Zambo grenade explosion
By Bong P. Garcia
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Nine people were injured when an MK2 grenade exploded Wednesday night in downtown Zamboanga City, a police official said.
The blast took place around 6:55 p.m. in front of a hotel beside the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) headquarters along Climaco Avenue downtown, according to Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) director Lurimer Detran.
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Detran said initial investigation showed that one of three men riding tandem in a motorcycle lobbed a hand grenade that past in front of the hotel.
He added that the explosive used was an MK2 grenade, citing the safety lever was recovered 20 meters away from the explosion site.
The incident Wednesday also damaged a motorized tricycle and a motorcycle.
Task Force Zamboanga chief Colonel Santiago Baluyot said the blast victims were passengers of the two damaged vehicles.
"Apparently, the suspects were aboard a motorcycle," Baluyot said based on initial investigation.
Of the nine injured victims, seven were rushed to the Zamboanga City Medical Center for treatment. One was brought to Ciudad Medical Center and another to Western Medical Center.
Elements of the Task Force Zamboanga, who went to the explosion site, were the ones who brought the victims to the hospitals.
Investigation is underway to unmask the culprits whether it is a spillover of the incidents that recently occurred in Iligan City as well as in Lanao del Norte province.
Three people were injured in two separate explosions last Sunday in two budget hotels in Iligan City.
Last Saturday, a grenade that failed to explode was recovered in one of the movie houses located in one of the shopping malls downtown.
The military and police meanwhile have heightened security measures in Zamboanga City amidst the fighting in other parts of Mindanao.
A city official said Wednesday’s explosion took place two days after bomb scare text messages circulated in Zamboanga City. (Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Iloilo. (August 21, 2008 issue)
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