2006 Central Mindanao bombings

Infobox terrorist attack
title=2006 Central Mindanao bombings


caption=
location=multiple locations in Central Mindanao (Tacurong, Makilala, and Cotabato City)
target=multiple targets (incl. public market, bank, shopping mall)
date=10 October–11, 2006
time=
timezone=
type=
fatalities=8
injuries=at least 30
perps=unknown (MILF, Abu Sayyaf, and Jemaah Islamiyah suspected)
motive=

The 2006 Central Mindanao bombings were a series of three bombings and one attempted bombing in Central Mindanao on October 10 and 11. Eight people were killed and between 30 and 46 were injured.

Bombings

Tacurong

At least four people were injured when a bomb went off at a public market in Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat on October 10. Two others died in the attack.cite news |first=Al |last=Jacinto |title=14 killed, 24 wounded in bomb attacks |url=http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/net/2006/10/11/14.killed.24.wounded.in.bomb.attacks.html |work=Sun Star |date=2006-10-11 |accessdate=2007-02-19]

Makilala

On October 10, six people died in the Makilala municipality of Cotabato province when a bomb exploded at the town's 52nd foundation anniversary. Between 26 and 42 others were injured in the attack.cite news |title=12 dead in Philippine bomb blast, 42 injured |url=http://sg.news.yahoo.com/061010/1/43yni.html |work=Yahoo! Singapore News |publisher=AFP |date=2006-10-10 |accessdate=2007-02-19] The death toll was initially reported as 12 due to double counting.cite news |title=Six killed in Philippines bombing |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6037828.stm |work=BBC |date=2006-10-10 |accessdate=2007-02-19] On the following day, another bomb was found, but it was defused by the authorities.cite news |title=Fresh blast as Philippines blames rebels for bombs |url=http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2006-10-11T072726Z_01_MAN1164_RTRUKOC_0_US-PHILIPPINES-REBELS.xml&WTmodLoc=IntNewsHome_C2_worldNews-1 |publisher=Reuters |date= |accessdate=2006-10-11 (Link dead as of February 19 2007)]

Cotabato City

On October 11, another bomb went off near a bank and a shopping mall in Cotabato City, causing no casualties.

Response

Government

Emmanuel Piñol, the governor of Cotabato province, blamed members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for the bombings, citing similarities withprevious bombings. According to Piñol, the bomb used in Makilala had the "all the signatures of the MILF".

Army bomb experts said that the bomb was detonated via a mobile phone and that twenty missed calls were logged when the phone was found.

Others suggest the Abu Sayyaf or Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) was behind the attacks, as the arrest of Istiada Binti Oemar Sovie, the wife of JI leader Dulmatin, in Sulu may have prompted the attacks. Dulmatin himself is reportedly hiding on Jolo Island.cite news |title=Security high after Mindanao bomb |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6039256.stm |work=BBC |date=2006-10-11 |accessdate=2007-02-19]

International

A day after the attacks, the Australian government advised its nationals to exercise a “high degree of caution...due to high threat of terrorist attack” and to avoid places frequented by foreigners in Metro Manila, Mindanao (including Sulu), and Cebu.cite news |first=Veronica |last=Uy |title=Australia issues travel advisory to RP after bombings |url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view_article.php?article_id=26107 |work=Inquirer.net |publisher=INQ7.net |date=2006-10-11 |accessdate=2007-02-19]

The United Kingdom and the United States also issued travel warnings.

References