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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, October 17, 2002

5 Killed, 144 Injured in Blasts in Southern Philippines

Eleven Turkish and Pakistani sailors were invited for questioning in connection with the twin bomb blasts in the southern Philippine city of Zamboanga on Thursday, which killed at least five and wounded 144 others.


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2 Bombs Explode in Southern Philippines
Eleven Turkish and Pakistani sailors were invited for questioning in connection with the twin bomb blasts in the southern Philippine city of Zamboanga on Thursday, which killed at least five and wounded 144 others.

But Police Chief Inspector Jose Bayani Gucela refused to give details, only said that the foreigners are crew members of a ship arriving in the city on Oct. 8, the Philippine News Agency reported.

The vessel was reportedly carrying salts. Police would like to find out if the presence of the Turkish and Pakistani nationals was coincidental with the bomb explosions.

Other reports said 16 people were invited for questioning on the bombings. Three foreigners were among them.

Two bombs exploded separately at Shop-O-Rama and Shopping Central, two favorite shopping malls in crowded business areas in Zamboanga.

The first one exploded at around 11:30 a.m. (0330 GMT) at the bags and luggage section of Shop-O-Rama. The blast was followed at 12:05 p.m. (0405 GMT) by the second explosion at the Shoppers Central.

Two more bombs were discovered and defused later by police explosive experts in two other different locations in the city.

The bomb explosions just occurred as the incoming Armed Forces Southern Command (SouthCom) chief, Lieutenant General Narciso Abaya, was receiving formally his command at the SouthCom Headquarters in Zamboanga from outgoing chief Lieutenant General Ernesto Carolina. Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes attended the turnover rites.

The military has reportedly tagged the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group which allegedly has links with the al-Qaeda terrorist network, as the one behind the bombings.

Thursday's bombings were the third of such kind of incidents in the southern Philippines in October. Six people were killed in a bombing at a bus terminal in Kidapawan city of North Cotabato on Oct. 10, days after three persons including an American soldier were killed in a bomb explosion in front of a Karaoke bar in Zamboanga on Oct. 2.


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