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The Isulan bombing was an act of Islamic terrorism by Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in the municipality of Isulan, Sultan Kudarat, which killed 3 and injured over 36 in a town festival.[1]
| 2018 Isulan bombings | |
|---|---|
| Part of Moro conflict | |
 Aftermath of the September 2 twin bombings | |
  Isulan Isulan (Mindanao mainland) .svg) Isulan Isulan (Philippines) Location of the twin bombings in the town of Isulan | |
| Location | Isulan, Sultan Kudarat, Philippines |
| Date | August 28 and September 2, 2018 First largest explosion: 28 August, 20:34:10 (UTC+8) Second explosion: 2 September, 19:28:25 (UTC+8) |
Attack type | Bombing |
| Weapons | First largest explosion: Improvised explosive device planted on a parked motorcycle |
| Victims | First largest explosion: 3 deaths, 36 injuries Second explosion: 2 deaths, 12 injuries |
No. of participants | 7 |
| Motive | Revenge terrorism, Jihad |
| Accused | Normia Antao Camsa, Norshiya Joven Camsa, Abedin Camsa alias “Beds,” Hassan Akgun |
August 28 bombing
editThe bombing occurred on 28 August 2018 at around 8:34 pm local time in Barangay Kalawag 3 in front of J and H Marketing, a retail area for ukay ukay merchandise, along the National Highway around the area of the Isulan town proper.[1] The explosion was caused by an improvised explosive device planted on a parked motorcycle. The incident happened amidst the Hamungaya Festival, a harvest festival celebrated in the Isulan annually.[2]
Casualties
editThe blasts had three casualties: a 51-year-old, a 7-year-old child, and a 18-year-old college student.[3] The 51-year-old died at the bombing site while the two died while confined in a hospital due to serious injuries from shrapnel wounds. 36 people were injured which includes two soldiers and a militia personnel.[3][4]
Investigation
editSuspects
editThe police and military believed the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters were behind the bombing, believed to be in retaliation to the group's losses in clashes against the Philippine Army.
The police later released an official sketch of an individual tagged as a suspect to the bombing on September 1, 2018. The suspect was described as a 20 to 25 years old male who is 5 feet 6 inches (168 centimetres) tall, weighs about 60 kilograms (130 pounds), with a medium built and a white complexion. The police believed that the suspect was working with accomplices since the bombing was made in a manner that it cannot be done by a single person.
Authorities filed charges against 7 suspects, 2 of which were still at large. Four were identified as Normia Antao Camsa, Norshiya Joven Camsa, Abedin Camsa alias “Beds,” and a Swedish national, Hassan Akgun.[5][6]
Methods
editAccording to the police, the suspect detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) using a mobile phone. He was said to have been accosted by a militiaman when he placed the bomb under a parked motorbike. The IED's composition was determined to consist of black powder filled inside a barrel of water pump laced with cut nails and metal shards. A nine-volt battery was placed as a triggering device.[7]
Reaction
editExecutive Salvador Medialdea hinted on August 29 that the Martial law in Mindanao which was due to terminate by the end of 2018 could be extended following the bombing. Local officials of Sultan Kudarat as well as Maguindanao expressed openness to the possible extension of martial law.[4] Further activities in relation to the 104th foundation day of Isulan and the Hamungaya Festival were cancelled.[7]
September 2 twin bombings
editA second explosion, 500 metres away from the 28 August bombing, occurred on Sunday, 2 September 2018 around 7:30 pm local time outside an Internet café in the Barangay Kalawag 2 area of the city killing 2 and injuring 15.[4][8][9] No group claimed responsibility, however the army division commander, Brigadier General Cirilito Sobejana, believed it to be the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.[10]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Talabong, Rambo; Falcatan, Richard (28 August 2018). "3 dead, 36 hurt in Sultan Kudarat blast". Rappler. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
- ^ Unson, John (30 August 2018). "ARMM execs support martial law extension; blast death toll rises to 3". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
- ^ a b Fernandez, Jeffrey; Maitem, Jeoffrey (31 August 2018). "Crime stude 3rd fatality in S. Kudarat bombing". Retrieved 1 September 2018.
- ^ a b c Cabuenas, Jon Viktor (2 September 2018). "Second explosion hits Isulan, Sultan Kudarat; at least 1 killed". GMA News. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
- ^ Fernandez, Bong S. Sarmiento, Edwin O. "Swede, 6 others charged with frustrated murder for Sultan Kudarat bombing". newsinfo.inquirer.net. Retrieved 2019-10-10.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Fernandez, Edwin O. (2021-04-22). "Sultan Kudarat bombing suspect yields to police in Maguindanao". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2022-06-17.
- ^ a b Fernandez, Edwin (1 September 2018). "Police release sketch of Isulan bombing suspect". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
- ^ "2 dead, 12 injured as another blast hits Sultan Kudarat". Rappler. Retrieved 2018-09-05.
- ^ "Philippines: Bomb detonates in Isulan September 2 /update 2". Philippines: Bomb detonates in Isulan September 2 /update 2 | Crisis24. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
- ^ "Bomb kills one and injures 15 in cafe in southern Philippines". Reuters. September 2, 2018.