A homemade bomb believed planted by Abu Sayyaf rebels exploded outside a courthouse in the southern Philippines, injuring a pregnant woman who was passing by, the military said Tuesday. The bomb exploded as "several" Abu Sayyaf guerrillas appeared in court on charges of kidnapping in the southern Jolo island Monday, military commander Brigadier General Alexander Yapching said. "The bomb was remotely detonated in downtown Jolo and we are still lucky that not so many people were in the area at the time of the explosion," Yapching told reporters here. The device was made from an 18-millimeter mortar shell rigged to containers filled with gasoline and planted on a parked tricycle. Abu Sayyaf rebels had used such bombs in previous attacks. "Government operation against the Abu Sayyaf is continuing and as a matter of fact, we have intensified the hunt on Abu Sayyaf terrorists in the island," Yapching said.
| I think they mean an 81mm mortar shell, unless they got it from the Army of Midgets... |
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