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Eight dead in Philippines blast Eight dead in Philippines blast
(about 5 hours later)
At least eight people have been killed in an explosion at a shopping centre in the Philippine capital, Manila. At least eight people have died after a suspected bomb attack in the Philippine capital, Manila.
The lunchtime blast shattered windows and sent debris crashing on to cars at the Glorietta shopping complex in the city's Makati financial district. The lunchtime blast shattered windows and sent debris crashing onto cars at the Glorietta shopping complex.
Some 70 people were hurt in the blast, the cause of which was not yet clear. More than 100 people were hurt in the explosion, in the city's Makati business district.
Police initially said a gas cylinder had exploded, but discounted that theory. A police chief then said a bomb attack could not be ruled out. Police initially believed the cause was an exploding gas cylinder, but experts and officials later said it was almost certainly a bomb attack.
"I was told by officials of the explosives and ordnance disposal division that it could be a bomb, but it's not definite yet," National Police chief Avelino Razon told journalists. President Gloria Arroyo said the city's emergency services were on high alert, and 2,000 extra personnel had been drafted in "to prevent a similar occurrence".
"All indications show it was not a LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) explosion," he said. "We assure everyone that a full-blown investigation is now under way," she said on local TV.
Police were still investigating and a general alert had been issued for the city, officials said. Bomb theory
'Sudden explosion'
The blast caused extensive damage to the shopping centre. Concrete blocks and planks fell from the roof and cars outside the mall were covered with debris.The blast caused extensive damage to the shopping centre. Concrete blocks and planks fell from the roof and cars outside the mall were covered with debris.
Philippine police are investigating the cause of the blastPhilippine police are investigating the cause of the blast
The blast left a large crater on the ground floor of the popular shopping mall, said Makati City councillor JunJun Binay. "It left a deep crater at the foot of the escalator," said Charlie Nepomuceno, an employee at the Glorietta complex.
"From what I have seen it was a significant explosion and that most of the dead and injured were all employees," French news agency AFP quoted him as saying. "It also ripped open the roof of the building. I saw a man thrown on to the roof who had lost a leg," he told Reuters.
One of the injured, Christine Calope, said that there had been "a sudden explosion". National police chief Avelino Razon said he believed a bomb had caused the explosion.
"I don't know if it was inside or outside the mall," she said. "Beyond that we can't say anything else yet because we are still investigating," he told AFP news agency.
Militants have targeted the Philippine capital in the past.Militants have targeted the Philippine capital in the past.
In 2004, more than 100 people died when militants from the Islamist Abu Sayyaf group - who are battling the military in the south of the country - blew up a passenger ferry in the capital. In 2004, more than 100 people died when Islamic militants from the Abu Sayyaf group - who are battling the military in the south of the country - blew up a passenger ferry in the capital.
And in February 2005, four people died in a bomb attack on a Manila bus.And in February 2005, four people died in a bomb attack on a Manila bus.