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Bus explosion kills 10 in Philippines

21 October 2010 18:01 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. At least 10 people have been killed and 30 others injured when a bomb explosion ripped through a passenger bus in southern Philippines, APA reports quoting Press TV.

The blast took place Thursday morning on the Kabacan-Matalam highway in the town of Matalam in North Cotabato, on the island of Mindanao.

Director of the North Cotabato Police Cornelio Salinas said an initial investigation revealed that the powerful blast shook the rear of the vehicle from the overhead compartment.

He said a man, suspected of carrying out the bomb attack, boarded the bus in Kabacan town, also in North Cotabato.

The perpetrator alighted from the car in Matalam town and a few minutes later the explosion occurred, he added.

Eight people were killed on the spot. The force of the explosion was so strong it decapitated two of the victims.

Those injured were taken to Matalam District Hospital. Two more died while undergoing treatment at the hospital, bringing the number of fatalities to 10.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. Police suspect extortion was the motive behind the bombing.

Bus companies have long been receiving extortion letters from armed groups operating in Mindanao.

Extortion gangs have threatened to resort to bombing and even harming bus company employers in case the bus firms refuse to give in to their demands.