Officials in the Philippines believe al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaff militants are responsible for Sunday’s deadly explosion at a hotel in Zamboanga City. Authorities say 3 people died and 27 others were wounded in the blast, which originated from a room on the second floor of Atilano Pension House. Many of the victims were wedding guests set to attend a ceremony on Monday.
The explosion destroyed the hotel and shattered windows in nearby buildings. Investigators say 22 pounds of TNT was used in the bomb. The hotel owner had previously been warned of a possible bomb attack by authorities citing intelligence work.
City police director Edwin de Ocampo said the attack on the hotel has been linked to two other bombs found in Isabela city on Basilan Island. The bombs were apparently supposed to detonate at the same time as the hotel bomb, but they were discovered by police and defused.
Zamboanga Mayor Celso Lobregat vowed to find those behind the attack. "We should not show that we're panicking because that is what these troublemakers relish to see," Lobregat told The Associated Press. "We have good leads. We will get all of them."
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