Five dead in series of Manila bomb explosions

Five dead in series of Manila bomb explosions
REUTERS

MANILA, DEC 30: A series of bombs exploded almost simultaneously in the Philippine capital Manila on Saturday, killing at least five people and wounding scores, police said.

The most devastating explosion was in one of the coaches ofa crowded suburban train as it was pulling into a station. At least four people were killed and 30 wounded, officials said.

Another bomb went off on a park bench near the U.S.Embassy, injuring five people.

A third bomb exploded in a bus terminal, killing oneperson. "It was so powerful it stood a bus up on end," said a reporter for ABS-CBN television news channel.

A fourth explosion was reported from near Manila'sinternational airport, near the power generating plant. Several people were injured, witnesses at the scene said.

There was no immediate word on who was responsible for theexplosions, which all occurred around noon (0400 GMT).

Muslim separatist rebels based in the southern Philippineshave been blamed for bomb attacks in the South and in the capital in the past.