Manila - At least 34 people are dead after
a gunman burst into a Manila casino, firing shots and setting
gaming tables alight, Philippine media reported on Friday, in
what officials said was a botched robbery attempt.
Police said the unidentified gunman had killed himself after
firing at armed officers searching the still-smoking Resorts
World Manila entertainment complex hours after the drama that
began shortly after midnight.
Many of the dead suffocated in the chaos as guests and staff
tried to flee choking smoke at the complex, according to a
report by ANC News channel, quoting Bureau of Fire Protection
sources.
Resort owner Travellers International Hotel Group Inc
said authorities were still seeking details.
"We have been informed of several casualties, the number and
identities of whom have yet to be determined," it said in a
statement. Its shares were down 7 percent.
Around dawn, the body of the suspected gunman was found in a
hotel room in the complex, which is close to Ninoy Aquino
International Airport and an air force base, police said.
"He burned himself inside the hotel room 510," national
police chief Ronald dela Rosa told a media conference. "He lay
down on the bed, covered himself in a thick blanket and
apparently doused himself in gasoline."
The bodies of two of the victims had been taken to the
Veronica funeral parlour, staff member Leni Domingo told
Reuters.
Officials said at least 54 people were hurt, some seriously,
as they rushed to escape what at first had been feared as a
militant attack.
Dela Rosa told DZMM radio the lone gunman had not aimed his
assault rifle at people and may have been trying to steal casino
chips.
"Don't panic, this is not a cause for alarm. We cannot
attribute this to terrorism," dela Rosa said.
"We are looking into a robbery angle because he did not hurt
any people and went straight to the casino chips storage room.
He parked at the second floor and barged into the casino,
shooting large TV screens and poured gasoline on a table setting
it on fire," he said.
Police said the gunman was tall with a pale complexion and
spoke English.
Videos posted earlier on social media showed people fleeing
as several loud bangs were heard.
"Even the security personnel panicked. Maybe because of the
heavy firearm, they can't put up a fight so they prioritised
life and safety," Jeff Santos, a high roller at Resorts World
Manila, told a Philippine radio station. "Definitely us patrons
we did not expect that, everyone ran away."
Jeri Ann Santiago, who works in the emergency room at the
San Juan de Dios hospital, said patients were suffering the
effects of smoke inhalation and some had injuries such as
fractures. None had gunshot wounds, she said.
Kimberly Molitas, a spokeswoman for the capital's police
office, said 113 million Philippine pesos ($2.27 million) worth
of casino chips stolen during the raid had been recovered.
"Please help pray for the injured and the loss of lives due
to suffocation," she said in a message to reporters.
The Philippines has been on heightened alert amid a crisis
in the south of the country, where troops have been battling
Islamist rebels since May 23.
President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law on the
southern island of Mindanao last week and has warned it could
become a haven for supporters fleeing Iraq and Syria.
Dela Rosa said there had been no specific, credible terror
threat in Manila so far.
Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington was
closely monitoring what he described as a "terrorist" attack
unfolding in Manila.
The U.S. embassy in Manila told Americans there to exercise
caution and to review their personal security.
Dozens of police trucks and a handful of huge Special Action
Force vans and armoured personnel carriers lined side streets
near the hotel, casino and shopping mall complex as the drama
unfolded.
Gil Yonco, 54, stood weeping in the street at around 5 a.m.
His daughter had been on the second floor inside Resorts World
and called her father for help because she was being suffocated
by smoke.
He tried calling back but there was no answer. "I am very
worried as a parent, I need to find her," he said.
A casino worker named Julio from the third floor of the
complex told DZMM radio he heard many gunshots and saw people
running up the stairs from the second floor.
Ronald Romualdo, a maintenance worker at Resorts World, told
the station he saw a woman fall from an upper floor while trying
to escape. "Several people were injured," he said.