The duo, who had been identified by their aliases Black and Norman, simultaneously detonated their explosive belts while sentinels were about to search them.
Police photos show the two Abu Sayyaf suicide bombers wearing explosives vest. (The Zamboanga Post)
Five soldiers were among those killed in the attacks that also wounded a dozen more. Eight civilian casualties were also reported by the police. The mangled bodies of the bombers, including a decapitated head, were also recovered from the scene and brought to the military headquarters in the capital town of Jolo.
A police report identified the attackers as fighters of the Abu Sayyaf under Radulan Sahiron and not Indonesian militants as previously suspected by authorities. An undated photo obtained by the police also showed the bombers clad in white vest rigged with explosives posing side by side with a black ISIS flag.
One of the attackers, police said, previously surrendered to the military. But it was unknown what drove him to rejoin his group and eventually ended up a suicide bomber. This is believed to be the first suicide bombing mission of the Abu Sayyaf.
Senior military officials, escorted by dozens of soldiers, also inspected the site where the bombers blew themselves up. They also visited soldiers wounded in the twin bombings and held an emergency meeting with top government officials.
Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the suicide attacks which occured during an extended martial rule in the restive region where security forces are batlling several pro-ISIS groups and communist insurgency. It also released a video recently showing Abu Sayyaf fighters in Sulu renewing their pledge of allegiance to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Bahgdadi.
Security has been tightened in Sulu after the bombings with policemen and soldiers putting up additional checkpoints and roadblocks to deter future attacks by terrorists. President Rodrigo Duterte, who previously ordered the military to destroy the Abu Sayyaf, is expected to visit wounded soldiers recuperating at military hospitals here and Zamboanga City. (The Zamboanga Post)
A police report identified the attackers as fighters of the Abu Sayyaf under Radulan Sahiron and not Indonesian militants as previously suspected by authorities. An undated photo obtained by the police also showed the bombers clad in white vest rigged with explosives posing side by side with a black ISIS flag.
One of the attackers, police said, previously surrendered to the military. But it was unknown what drove him to rejoin his group and eventually ended up a suicide bomber. This is believed to be the first suicide bombing mission of the Abu Sayyaf.
Senior military officials, escorted by dozens of soldiers, also inspected the site where the bombers blew themselves up. They also visited soldiers wounded in the twin bombings and held an emergency meeting with top government officials.
Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the suicide attacks which occured during an extended martial rule in the restive region where security forces are batlling several pro-ISIS groups and communist insurgency. It also released a video recently showing Abu Sayyaf fighters in Sulu renewing their pledge of allegiance to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Bahgdadi.
Security has been tightened in Sulu after the bombings with policemen and soldiers putting up additional checkpoints and roadblocks to deter future attacks by terrorists. President Rodrigo Duterte, who previously ordered the military to destroy the Abu Sayyaf, is expected to visit wounded soldiers recuperating at military hospitals here and Zamboanga City. (The Zamboanga Post)
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