Several wounded in Southern Philippines explosion

An explosion at a public market in the southern Philippines wounded at least seven people early on Saturday, the fourth blast in that area in 13 months, the military said.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast, but a militant group operating in the mostly Christian city of Isulan in the province of Sultan Kudarat was among the suspects, military said.

According to the PNA news agency, citing Lt. Col. Junie Buenacosa, the police chief of the provincial capital of Insulan, an unidentified perpetrator set off the device outside a market in the city.

“The suspected IED was placed at a terminal for motorcycles in front of the public market,” Buenacosa said, as quoted by the outlet.

The police chief added that a traffic police officer was among those injured by the explosion. He was hospitalized.

Mindanao is home to a large portion of the Philippines’ Muslim population.

Insulan has repeatedly been targeted by bombings over recent years. In 2018, two explosions killed five people and wounded 45 others. Moreover, in April, another blast targeted the same highway, where the market hit on Saturday is located, according to PNA.

via Reuters / Urdu