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Suspected bomber dead, 7 hurt in Philippines airport blast

05 August 2010 20:59 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. A Philippines governor claims he was the target of a bomb explosion Thursday night that rocked the Zamboanga International Airport, according to the country’s state-run news agency, APA reports quoting CNN.
Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan told the Philippines News Agency that he was standing near his car just outside the arrival area when he saw an unidentified man approaching him and his companions.
At about 6:20 p.m. (6:20 a.m. ET) a loud explosion occurred and thick black smoke billowed from the area where the man was last seen. The suspect, believed to be the one carrying the improvised explosive device, was killed, Mayor Celso Lobregat told the news agency. The governor received minor injuries.
"The man could be a suicide bomber and his intention was to get close to me," Tan said, adding that it was the second attempt on his life since May of last year. On May 13, 2009, the news agency said Tan survived a road-side bombing attack in downtown Jolo but 10 of his followers and armed escorts were hurt.
He said he was convinced the bomb attack in Zamboanga was the handiwork of his political foes.
No one has claimed responsibility for the attack and authorities are investigating the incident, the news agency said.
Lobregat said the city has been placed on alert.