At least 37 people died inside a casino hotel across Manila’s international airport after a gunman tried to burn it before killing himself early Friday, June 2.
Firefighters found the bodies inside two floors of Maxim’s Hotel, part of the Resort World Manila casino, about five hours after the gunman stormed the casino, shot at a TV screen, set fire on a gambling table and tried to steal gambling chips from the chips room.
Although police said the gunman was alone, a CCTV footage in the hotel showed three gunmen before the attack, according to a reliable source of The Filipino Times.
The gunman’s burnt body was found in a room on the second floor of the hotel. Police said he killed himself.
Dozens of people were also injured in a stampede triggered by the shooting. Casino players and hotel guests also rushed out of the hotel to escape from the thick smoke caused by the fire.
Reports said the incident started around midnight when the gunman got out of his car parked on the second floor of the casino hotel carrying a baby Armalite. A security guard at the entrance to the casino area tried to stop the gunman, who ignored him and entered the door.
The shooting and panic then ensued as police rushed to the casino.
In a live report of a woman at the scene through her mobile phone that was streamed on social media, screaming were heard as she described people running to get out of the casino area for safety. She also quoted people as saying that there is an “ISIS”, referring to the jihadist group that carried out terrorist attacks in the Middle East and Europe.
Reports said the ISIS issued a statement online claiming responsibility for the attack. But Philippine National Police chief Director Ronald dela Rosa said the arson may just be a case of attempted robbery gone bad because the gunman did not shoot anyone.
photo credit: PNP PIO
