5 Red Cross personnel, 6 others hurt in Zambo grenade attack

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - Eleven were hurt after the Nur Misuari-led faction of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) fired a rifle grenade in Barangay Sta. Catalina, Zamboanga City.

Among those injured were five Philippine Red Cross volunteers, two personnel of the Philippine National Police, two soldiers, a human rights personnel and an intelligence personnel. 

The group were seeking cover from the concrete fence of the Zamboanga City Medical Center along the corner of the Dr. Evangelista Street and Lustre junction when the M203 rifle grenade exploded past 5 p.m.

Two of the wounded Red Cross personnel and airforce personnel were seriously wounded while the rest were slightly injured from the blast.

The explosion forced news correspondents and televisions crews within the blast site scampering for safety and leaving the area as the ground was getting more hostile. 

The rifle grenade attack came as military tanks were trying to barge and clear the area of rebels to allow the fire trucks to contain the three sites torched by the rebels.