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9 dead, 100 hurt in suspected terror attack at Makati mall


(Updated, Saturday, 7 a.m.) - A powerful blast, believed to be caused by a bomb, rocked a crowded shopping mall in Manila's financial district about 1:30 p.m. Friday, killing at least nine people and injuring more than a hundred others. The explosion caused extensive damage throughout the Glorietta 2 shopping complex in Makati City, toppling roofs, destroying walls, and sending debris crashing onto cars outside. The blast triggered travel advisories from the United States, United Kingdom and Canada, warning their nationals against "terror threats" in the Philippines. Components from a powerful explosive C4 were recovered by police investigators from the debris at the blast site, GMA News’s Saksi reported early Saturday. The report quoted unnamed authorities who also claimed they found parts of other explosive devices at the location. Authorities said they are looking into "a possible terrorist attack." Television footage showed extensive damage throughout the shopping complex where roofs were toppled, walls destroyed and parked cars outside covered with debris and metal scraps. The police on site had thought the blast was caused by a leaking LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) tank but Director Gen. Avelino Razon Jr, PNP chief, said that an assessment by ground commanders showed that what exploded could be "a bomb." "Sa assessment ng ground commander hindi LPG," Razon said. National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales said authorities are looking into "a possible terrorist attack" in the blast, adding that “this is not an accident." “We are looking into a possible terrorist attack," Gonzales said, adding that investigators are still looking for "conclusive evidence." Gonzales said the key is to look into the type of explosives used, which could serve as the "signature" of the bomber. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo called for an emergency security meeting Friday and ordered the implementation of strict security measures. Loud explosion Taxi driver Mario Em said he had just dropped off two female passengers at the mall when the blast hurled the two women against his vehicle, killing them instantly. He said he pulled one of the victims, who was pregnant, from underneath his car. ''The blast was so loud I lost hearing,'' he said. ''One man who was in front of me was already dead. There was a child but we don't know where the child is now,'' said Dennis Inigo, who was shopping at the time of the explosion. ''The man's wife was with me a while ago, and her leg was shattered. Many people were falling on top of each other,'' he said. ''It was loud, and then it became dusty.'' The Makati Medical Center has admitted as many as 51 people. A nurse interviewed by dzBB radio said no less than 30 people were in the hospital but could not comment on the extent of their injuries. A separate report said about 33 people were rushed to the Ospital ng Makati. Alfonso Reyes, corporate spokesman of mall owner Ayala Land, said the mall's management "will extend assistance to all of the victims." First person accounts The explosion created a thick cloud of dust near Glorietta 2 and forced the closure of the Glorietta and Park Square 2 malls and Landmark supermarket. An eyewitness told GMANews.TV that it sounded like a powerful firecracker blast and then a thudding sound was heard like that of a ceiling that had collapsed. Shoppers scampered out of the mall, some of them crying while police agents rushed in. The explosion was heard near the Glorietta 2 mall from across the Landmark shopping center near Ayala Avenue in the financial district of Makati City. A second eyewitness told radio dzBB that he saw smoke coming out of a building. It sounded like the explosion occurred inside or near one of the establishments. Mike Ochosa an analyst for Solar Sports who was inside the mall at the time said he was going out of the mall toward the parking lot when he heard the explosion. Ochosa described the explosion as similar to a muffled thunder clap. He said he saw shoppers some of them panicking run out of the mall. "I heard something like thunder but muffled inside the building. Then people were running out. There was smoke people running out and police rushing in," he said. He said the location of the explosion was near a department store at the side of Pasay Road. Police said an initial report suggested the blast was caused by a cooking gas tank in a mall restaurant. But hours later, they clarified the explosion was not inside the restaurant but at the entrance of the mall and police were investigating the cause. ''It's too early to say if it's terrorism related,'' Police Director Geary Barias, chief of the National Capital Region Police Office, said. Police and the military in the Philippine capital declared the highest state of alert, and President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said in a statement she was ''deeply saddened'' by the incident and ordered police to investigate ''and to leave no stone unturned.'' Al-Qaeda-linked militants, who have waged a yearslong bloody bombing campaign in the southern Philippines, have targeted Manila before. In 2004, Abu Sayyaf militants, notorious for kidnappings and beheadings, blew up a passenger ferry in Manila Bay, killing 116 people in the country's worst terrorist attack. The following year, four people were killed and dozens wounded when a bomb exploded on a Makati bus and two southern cities. Several months ago, authorities were alerted to an alleged terror plot to plant bombs in Manila's business districts of Makati and Ortigas, said a government counterterrorism official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. Partial list of casualties in Glorietta blast
* Fatalities (not including Reiner Tan who was found 2 a.m.)
  1. Anthony Arroyo
  2. Cesar Niño Vidano
  3. Maria Celeste Domingo Cruz
  4. Jee Ann De Gracia
  5. Lester Allan Peregrina
  6. Liza Enriquez
  7. Jose Allen de Jesus
  8. Janine Marcos
* Injured
  1. (Makati Medical Center, 3 in ICU, 1 in operating room)
  2. Arayon, Maria Isabel (discharged)
  3. Arroyo, Melanie (discharged)
  4. Balendrez, Jerick (discharged)
  5. Bolano, Shirley (discharged)
  6. Burcer, Jeffrey (discharged)
  7. Calope, Christine (discharged)
  8. De Asis, Jennie (discharged)
  9. De la Cruz, Christopher (discharged)
  10. De Leon, Evangeline (discharged)
  11. Dela Cruz, Teresita (discharged)
  12. Enriquez, Carmen (discharged)
  13. Estiller, John Kenneth (discharged)
  14. Estiller, Ma. Generosa (discharged)
  15. Gannaban, Rolando (discharged)
  16. Gonzalez, Alberto III (discharged)
  17. Honopre, Sally (discharged)
  18. Layo, Irene (discharged)
  19. Liwanag, Gerard Florence (discharged)
  20. Monteniz, Grace (discharged)
  21. Orna, Lodevina (discharged)
  22. Pableo, Lailani T. (discharged)
  23. Pamplina, Red (discharged)
  24. Pasamba, Mylene (discharged)
  25. Pascual, John Henry (discharged)
  26. Peregrino, Airish Lou (discharged)
  27. Peregrino, June Lester (discharged)
  28. Pineda, Christopher (discharged)
  29. Punsal, Ailene (discharged)
  30. Racelia, Ma. Cecilia (discharged)
  31. Raymaro, Mary Grace (discharged)
  32. Regachuelo, Gina (discharged)
  33. Reyes, Fely (discharged)
  34. Sampiano, Erwin (discharged)
  35. Santos, Donald (discharged)
  36. Santos, Lady Christine (discharged)
  37. Sapitan, Annabelle (discharged)
  38. Soriano, Angela Marie (discharged)
  39. Talingting, Silvestre (discharged)
  40. Villareal, Ana Patricia (discharged)
  41. Yap, Shiela Marie (discharged)
  42. Tingson, Sheila Mae (forwarded to operating room)
  43. Cañada, Yvonne (from Acute Care Center)
  44. Dunca, Cristina (from Acute Care Center)
  45. Yvonne Kim (from Acute Care Center)
  46. Kim, Haewoon (Rm. 421)
  47. Romasanta, Mia Therese (Rm. 919)
  48. Romasanta, Stephanie (Rm. 919)
  49. Romasanta. Rafael Antonio (Rm. 919)
  50. Marcelo, Maricel (ICU-6)
  51. Escoto, Bodie (ICU-7)
  52. Robinson, Orlanda (ICU-8)
  53. Bajar, Cesaria
  54. Dela Cruz, Sarah Jane
  55. Elvis
  56. Gallien, Marilou
  57. Garcia, Mabini Jr.
  58. Garcia, May Flor
  59. Magdale, Custodio Jr.
  60. Mappala, Rosalino
  61. Molet, Ma. Corazon
  62. Montenegro, Melvin
  63. Montenegro, Regina
  64. Ong, Roman
  65. Ortiz, Athea Rose
  66. Ramilo, Agnes
  67. Reynaro, Mary Grace
  68. Rodriguez, Wilson
  69. Santos, Josephine
  70. Torres, Irene
(Ospital ng Makati, 3 under observation)
  1. Abella, Carlito (discharged)
  2. Alfonzo, Cecilia (discharged)
  3. Dino, Ann Jobelle (discharged)
  4. Arienza, Juniel (discharged)
  5. Barbosa, Jean (discharged)
  6. Claudio, Gemma Rose (discharged)
  7. Cortez, Angelica (discharged)
  8. Em, Mario Jr. (discharged)
  9. Escote, Allan (discharged)
  10. Grey, Francisco Nelson (discharged)
  11. Manzo, Michelle (discharged)
  12. Mina, Andrea (discharged)
  13. Naive, Randy (discharged)
  14. Nombrado, Rex (discharged)
  15. Ordano, Allen (discharged)
  16. Padua, Sofia (discharged)
  17. Rodriguez, Angela Nina (discharged)
  18. Rodriguez, Ervy (discharged)
  19. Rodriguez, Teresa (discharged)
  20. Villanueva, Lyndon (discharged)
  21. Mijares, Jeremy Thoc
  22. Amabag, Maxine (under observation)
  23. De los Santos, Christopher (under observation)
  24. Estrada, Melissa (under observation)
(Ospital ng Makati Pembo)
  1. Imbon, Lea Gapasin
  2. Serrano, Ruby Rose
  3. Beltras, Ricardo
- GMANews.TV, with reports from the Associated Press
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