1st LD Writethru: 18 injured in twin explosions in S. Philippines

At least 18 people were injured Friday night in twin explosions that hit a compound near a police headquarters in the southern Philippine city of Jolo, security officials said Saturday.

Security officials blamed the Abu Sayyaf group for the attacks, who were supposed to retaliate the death of their member last week during a police operation.

The police said the first blast occurred about 7:30 p.m. just outside a mosque in Camp Kasim in Jolo, capital of Sulu province, when an unidentified man threw a grenade. The explosion left at least 5 civilians, including 3 minors, injured.

The second explosion occurred 10 minutes later in the same area when an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded hitting the responding police forces, according to Sulu Police Provincial director Abraham Orbita.

At least 11 police personnel were injured while another 2 civilians were hit and wounded from the bomb explosion.

The victims were rushed to the Sulu Provincial Hospital and military trauma hospital for treatment.

The police believed the grenade explosion was a booby trap for responding police forces.

"It seems the explosion was set up to draw responders as the target," Orbita said.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but Alan Arrojado, commander of military's Joint Task Group Sulu (JTGS), said the police forces killed a member of the Abu Sayyaf in downtown Jolo last week.

"It could be a retaliatory attack of the Abu Sayyaf group," he said. Endi