Gunman Opens Fire Inside Manila Hotel Then Kills Self
2017.06.01
Manila

A gunman stormed into a casino hotel in the Philippine capital, fired shots and set tables ablaze Friday (local time) before killing himself in what police believed was a robbery attempt, but the pre-dawn raid triggered fears of a terrorist attack.
National police chief Ronald Dela Rosa said customers ran screaming after the man fired an M4 carbine, a shorter version of the M-16 assault rifle, inside the casino complex of Resorts World Manila, across the road from the Manila International Airport.
One person suffered from smoke inhalation but no one was shot, he said.
"Up to this time, we can’t say this is an act of terror. Why? Because he has done no other violent act inside, aside from stealing chips and shooting at a TV. He did not hurt anyone. If you were a terrorist, you want to sow terror. You would have gunned down people,” Dela Rosa said.
The man was wearing a backpack and carrying a liter of gasoline which he poured on a table before setting it alight, Dela Rosa told local radio station DZBB.
“We reviewed [the video] recording, we did not see that he took any hostages. In fact, he passed by some people. He ignored some people,” Dela Rosa said.
The incident sparked a manhunt and hours later, police announced that the gunman had killed himself after firing at security forces.
"He killed himself. At room 510. It looks like he was alone. He fired at our men, " Manila city police chief Oscar Albayalde said on DZBB radio.
"Our assessment is he burnt himself. He committed suicide,” he said.
IS claims attack: report
Dozens of soldiers and police officers in body armor and carrying rifles deployed around the hotel after reports of a shooting spread quickly through social media.
Two armored personnel carriers could be seen outside the hotel hours after the shooting, which took place as government security forces were locked in a 10-day firefight with militants waving the black flags of the Islamic State (IS) in the southern city of Marawi.
“Right now, we cannot say that he is a member of the Maute,” Dela Rosa said, referring to one of two groups fighting the government in Marawi, where pitched gunbattles have so far claimed 171 lives.
In Washington, U.S. President Donald Trump opened a news conference at the White House by commenting on what he described as “the terror attack in Manila.”
“We are closely monitoring the situation,” he said. “It is really very sad as to what’s going on throughout the world, with terror. Our thoughts and our prayers are with all of those affected.”
The U.S.-based SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors online communications of extremist groups, reported that “an Islamic State (IS) Filipino operative who provides daily updates on the ongoing clashes in Marawi stated that the group is responsible for the attack at Resorts World Manila.”
But Philippine police said the claim could be propaganda.
“As far as the Philippine National Police is concerned, we can’t attribute to terrorism without concrete evidence. ISIS can claim anytime as part of their propaganda, but until we know the man’s motives, we can’t tell at this early stage,” Dela Rosa said, using another acronym for IS.
Roberto Palao Jr., a hotel janitor, told the radio station he saw a hooded man carrying what looked like a compact assault rifle before he heard several shots.
Smoke billowed out of the hotel as dozens of body armor-clad police officers entered the building. Fire trucks, ambulances, police cars and SWAT teams were in the area, a BenarNews reporter saw.
Local reports said guests and employees were asked to exit the hotel as others sprinted out or jumped out of windows after hearing gunfire.
Julio Silva, a casino customer, told reporters that he was on the third floor when he heard gunshots, so he hid in the restroom. Several more gunshots followed, and he saw thick smoke. He escaped when an armed security guard guided him and several people out of the building.
“The company is working closely with the Philippine National Police to ensure that all guests and employees are safe,” the hotel tweeted. “We ask for your prayers during these difficult times.”
The hotel, located opposite the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3, one of the country’s busiest, opened in 2009. It has 1,574 rooms and is a sister resort to Resorts World Genting, Malaysia and Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore.
Smoke billows from the Resorts World Manila hotel casino after a gunman set a fire inside, June 2, 2017. [Felipe Villamor/BenarNews]