NO FATALITIES, 26 INJURED IN TWIN ZAMBOANGA BLASTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 003708 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/PMBS, INR/EAP, S/CT NSC FOR GREEN E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/11/2015 TAGS: PGOV PTER ASEC CASC PREL PINS RP SUBJECT: NO FATALITIES, 26 INJURED IN TWIN ZAMBOANGA BLASTS REF: A. MANILA 3018 ¶B. MANILA 727 Classified By: Political Officer Joseph Saus for Reason 1.4 (b) and (d). Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) Two explosions rocked central Zamboanga City the evening of August 10, leaving an estimated 26 injured with no deaths. There are no claims of responsibility, and local civilian and security authorities say there are no definite leads so far in the investigation. Philippine counterterrorism authorities suspect the bombings are an attempt by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and the Jemmah Islamiyah (JI) to divert military attention away from operations in central Mindanao in pursuit of ASG and JI fugitives. In an initial survey of the casualties, there are no AMCITs among the injured -- including US military personnel in the Zamboanga area. End Summary. Two Explosions Rock Zamboanga -------------- ¶2. (SBU) According to a Philippine National Police (PNP) internal memorandum, a bomb exploded at around 7 p.m. local time in central Zamboanga in front of a copra buying station. According to initial Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines (JSOTF-P) assessments, the bomb was place underneath a parked vehicle. About an hour later, another bomb exploded in a pension house situated above a restaurant also in central Zamboanga. According to media reports, three suspects are in custody in connection to the bombings. ASG and JI diversion -------------- ¶3. (C) Undersecretary Ricardo Blancafor of the Presidential Anti Terrorism Task Force (ATTF) told poloff on August 11 he believes the bombings were carried out by the ASG or the JI on behalf of the ASG to divert military forces and attention away from central Mindanao. Currently, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is engaged in southwestern Maguindanao Province in pursuit and interdiction operations against ASG leader Khadafi Janajalani and several JI operatives linked to the October 2002 Bali bombing (ref A). Mayor Bounces Back -------------- ¶4. (C) Poloff spoke with Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat on August 11. Lobregat stressed there are no definite leads, adding four suspects are in detention and their identities are currently withheld as police try to expand the investigation. He noted that police are working the crime scenes for clues and questioning victims as well for any information they may have regarding the perpetrators. While city officials were careful to protect the crime scene, Lobregat emphasized that the streets were quickly cleaned to project that the city can bounce back and return to normal, refusing to be intimidated by terrorism. No AMCITs Affected -------------- ¶5. (SBU) CONS/ACS, upon receiving reports from of the events from local police and civil defense authorities, cross-checked the names of the injured in area hospitals with PIERS records concluding no likely AMCIT matches. JSOTF-P accounted for all personnel and restricted movements off military facilities in Zamboanga City. Comment -------------- ¶6. (C) Terrorist bombings are a familiar occurrence in Zamboanga and Mindanao, and the track record for solving these crimes is bleak. Although the facts remain unclear, Blancaflor's assessment of ASG/JI involvement is highly probable. The coordinated nature of these explosions and the diversionary modus operandi draw parallels to the ASG-claimed February 14 bombings in Manila and Mindanao (ref B). End Comment. Visit Embassy Manila's Classified SIPRNET website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm You can also access this site through the State Department's Classified SIPRNET website: http://www.sta