4 hurt in roadside explosion targeting convoy in Marawi City

From ABS-CBN (Dec 14): 4 hurt in roadside explosion targeting convoy in Marawi City

An improvised explosive device exploded by a roadside in Marawi City just as a military convoy was passing through late afternoon on Wednesday.

Four civilians and one soldier were wounded.

The explosion happened mere meters away from where a convoy of the Presidential Security Group was ambushed last November 29.

At about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, a 10-vehicle military convoy was shuttling members of the 1st Scout Ranger Battalion to the headquarters of the 103rd Infantry Brigade in Marawi, when the bomb exploded. The incident occurred at Barangay Rorogagus, hitting the two lead vehicles.

A Sergeant Gaon of the 65th Infantry Battalion, which was escorting the convoy, was hit by glass particles from the broken windshield. He is currently being treated for minor injuries.

Local police said that Samer Adato Gulam, a 20-year-old tricycle driver, is in critical condition.
Fathma Nawira Daluma, a 39-year-old public school teacher, suffered injuries. Two children, one 8 years old and another 11, were also wounded.

The bomb’s components are being analyzed by experts. The site of the blast is less than 500 meters from where the ambush on the PSG occurred.

The 1st Scout Rangers is the latest battalion deployed by the Armed Forces to join military operations fighting the Maute group, which has pledged allegiance to and chosen to bear the name of the Islamic State (Dawla Islamiya).

Intense military strikes have gone on since November 25.

The ambush on the PSG convoy occurred within this period, with the 103rd Brigade pinning the blame on the Maute group, which they said has been randomly targeting military convoys in an attempt to divert attention from the ongoing firefight.

http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/14/16/4-hurt-in-roadside-explosion-targeting-convoy-in-marawi-city