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Suicide blast in Sulu 'locally initiated': police

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<figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2qHhjBQBS_k?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>MANILA -- A deadly blast in the southern Philippines last June, the first to involve a Filipino suicide bomber, was &quot;locally initiated,&quot; contrary the claim of Islamic State jihadists, police said Wednesday.</p><p>The assertion of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria or ISIS remains &quot;up for validation,&quot; said Col. Bernard Banac, spokesman of the Philippine National Police.</p><p>&quot;Based on the information na nakuha natin (we received), this is a locally initiated attack organized by the Abu Sayyaf group,&quot; Banac said in a joint press briefing with the military.</p><p>&quot;We known for a fact that a lot of incidents have already happened perpetrated by the Abu Sayyaf group. Ito po ay (This is a) locally initiated na terrorist act.&quot;</p><p>ISIS claimed the assault was the handiwork of 2 suicide attackers, according to tweets from Rita Katz, the director of SITE Intelligence Group which monitors jihadist activities worldwide. </p><p>Political and security analysts said the attacks showed that ISIS was still present in the country.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/02/19/sulu-blasts-show-islamic-state-still-strong-in-ph">&#x27;Sulu blasts show Islamic State still strong in PH&#x27;</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/29/19/analyst-theres-reason-to-believe-sulu-blasts-were-suicide-attacks-by-is">Analyst: ‘There’s reason to believe’ Sulu blasts were suicide attacks by IS</a></li></ul><p>Authorities earlier said one of the two suicide bombers in the attack was a Filipino named Norman Lasuca, the first validated case of a Philippine citizen involved in such an attack. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/09/19/1-of-2-suicide-bombers-in-sulu-twin-blasts-confirmed-to-be-filipino">1 of 2 suicide bombers in Sulu twin blasts confirmed to be Filipino</a></li></ul><p>Eight people, including the bombers and three soldiers, were killed while 12 others were wounded in the incident. </p>

<p>The twin explosions in Indanan, Sulu last month were "locally initiated" as opposed to the claim of the Islamic State, police said Wednesday.</p>

The twin explosions in Indanan, Sulu last month were "locally initiated" as opposed to the claim of the Islamic State, police said Wednesday.