Suspect in Quiapo Church grenade scare nabbed

The Manila police arrested on Saturday one of two suspects in the lobbing of a grenade, which however did not explode, at a stall near the city's historic Quiapo Church on Friday as devotees were coming out of the church after hearing the traditional First Friday mass. In a spot report obtained by GMA News Online from the Manila Police District's (MPD) Station 3, the suspect was identified as Larry Alamchandani, allegedly the companion of another man who lobbed a grenade in Ashok Kumar’s direction. Alamchandani was arrested around 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, according to a report by Station 3 commander Supt. James Afalla. The report did not name the second suspect. The grenade-throwing incident happened past 7 p.m. on Friday in front of an optical supplies store at the corner of Evangelista and Paterno streets. (See: Grenade found near Quiapo Church during 1st Friday rush) The recovered grenade, an MK 2 fragmentation grenade, was defused on Friday and was found to be incapable of exploding. The suspect was positively identified by at least three witnesses, two of whom said Alamchandani accompanied the second suspect who allegedly threw the grenade. The third witness also identified Alamchandani as the one who hired him to murder Kumar sometime between June and August 2010, the police report added. The alleged murder plot was foiled, however, as the hired assassin was arrested for illegal possession of firearms. Police said Kumar and Alamchandani are relatives embroiled in a business dispute. Alamchandani was charged with attempted murder and was subjected to inquest proceedings at the Manila City Prosecutor's Office also on Saturday night. He is currently detained at MPD Station 3. —Jerrie M. Abella/JV, GMA News