Wednesday, July 9, 2025
spot_img

Van blast in Philippines kills 10

Date:

Share post:

spot_imgspot_img

Cotabato (Philippines): Ten people, including troops and civilians, were killed when an explosion tore through a van at an army checkpoint in the southern Philippines on Tuesday, as authorities warned the blast could be linked to a wider plot by Islamic militants. The powerful explosion happened after soldiers and pro-government militia troops stopped the vehicle and tried to search it just after dawn on the outskirts of the Christian city of Lamitan, which is on the predominantly Muslim island of Basilan.
One soldier, five militia troops and four civilians were killed. The van driver, a suspected member of the Abu Sayyaf militant group also died, Philippine military spokesman Colonel Edgard Arevalo told reporters.
He added that government forces had been on heightened alert after receiving reports that extremists planned to plant improvised explosives in areas around the island. “We can just imagine the tragedy that this would bring to the people of Basilan had we not stopped them at the checkpoint,” he said. (AFP)

spot_imgspot_img

Related articles

The Comfort Crisis: Why Striving Feels Outdated

By Ellerine Diengdoh Before we dive in, here’s a quick disclaimer, which is also a confession. The observations that...

Meghalaya Dy CM Dhar visits Lapangap border village

Jowai, July 8: Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, who also serves as the Chairman of the Regional...

Assam BJP reaffirms support to state govt’s eviction drive

  GUWAHATI, July 8: BJP Assam Pradesh on Tuesday extended full support to the ongoing eviction drive across the...

NRC notice by Assam FT to Bengal resident irks Mamata

Guwahati, July 8: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has expressed shock and dismay over the issuance of...