TERRORISM: Philippine Bomb Blast Kills Eleven., page 1

An apparent home made bomb or possibly a grenade has killed eleven people and injured thirty in a crowded market in the southern Philippines. The market in General Santos City was crowded at the time with Christmas shoppers and the device was described by authorites and witness' as very powerful. Police believe the bomb was hidden in a box.

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Police cordoned off the area, fearing more explosives may have been planted, radio reports said.

Army Colonel Medardo Geslani, who heads a regional anti-terrorism force, said no group claimed responsibility and it was not yet clear if terrorist groups were involved.

Despite a crackdown by the military and police, Muslim militants have staged bomb attacks and maintain a presence in General Santos, a bustling port city 1000km south of Manila. The Abu Sayyaf, an Islamic organisation that appears on a US list of terror groups, claimed responsibility for a bomb that killed more than 100 people on a ferry leaving Manila in February.

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The entire South East Asian region has many extremist groups/cells. The Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiah are directly linked and are believed to be further linked to Al-Qeida. Sadly, these groups may be timing an upsurge of attacks as christmas approaches because Muslim extremists regard christmas as a western concept.

Related News Links:
abcnews.go.com
www.abc.net.au

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[edit on 12-12-2004 by sanctum]