MANILA, Philippines, March 29 (UPI) -- An Islamist terror group linked to al-Qaida has been blamed for the bombing of a cooperative store on the Philippine island of Jolo that killed nine people.
A senior police official in Jolo City said the attack on the store Monday had the hallmarks of Abu Sayyaf, which uses cell phones to trigger improvised explosive devices composed mainly of ammonium nitrate.
The device that exploded at a cooperative store was apparently left in an area for the checked bags of shoppers.
The Manila Times said Wednesday authorities believe the store was targeted because it is operated by an order of Roman Catholic priests who also run the city's cathedral.
In addition to the nine shoppers killed, 24 others were injured.
The Philippine military has stepped up operations to hunt down Abu Sayyaf terrorists in the southern Philippines, where Muslim separatists have been battling the government for years. The government and the main Muslim organization are currently holding negotiations in Malaysia over questions of autonomy and/or independence.
Abu Sayyaf began as a breakaway group from the main Moro National Liberation Front.
The Manila Times reported that the bombing coincided with military operations against the group. An Abu Sayyaf weapons courier was captured earlier this month and a number of terrorists killed in a separate clash. A cache of homemade bombs was also uncovered.
