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At least 34 dead in Resorts World Manila attack


At least 34 people are now known to have died in an attack on the Resorts World Manila casino by what is thought to have been a lone gunman.

Most of the dead suffocated in thick toxic smoke after the man set fire to casino tables, the BBC reported. The gunman, whose nationality is not yet known, began shooting in the casino in Resorts World Manila in the early hours of Friday morning.

Hundreds of guests and employees were rushed out of one of the hotels after the gunman opened fire on the second floor. Resorts World Manila was in lockdown after the incident.

Authorities were quick to play down the idea of a terrorist attack, saying the motive appeared to be a robbery. The man filled a backpack with gambling chips worth 113m Philippine pesos ($2.3m), but left the bag behind as he fled the scene.

Philippines police chief Ronald dela Rosa said a lone gunman had entered the gaming area at Resorts World, fired at a television and set some gambling tables on fire. Gunshots were fired, he said, but were not aimed at people in the room.

The concern, said dela Rosa, is that Islamic militants may lay claim to the incident to further their propaganda. The Philippines army is currently fighting militants allied to so-called Islamic State on the southern island of Mindanao.

"We cannot say this is an act of terror... he [the gunman] did not hurt anyone," the police chief said. "If you are a terrorist you will sow terror."

Resorts World Manila spokesman and COO Stephen Reilly said, “We are searching the area as much as we can to make sure it is clear.”

“At the moment we only know of one suspect. His affiliation, his identity is not known at this time,” he added.

The gunman later covered himself in a blanket, doused himself in petrol and set fire to himself in one of the bedrooms of the hotel, where he died.

All terminals at Ninoy Aquino International Airport were placed on lockdown because of the attack, according to Robert Echano with airport operations. The airport is about a mile away from the resort.

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