Blast hits Makati mall; ten hurt

At least 10 people, mostly teenagers, were hurt in an explosion apparently caused by a pillbox bomb in the upscale Glorietta Mall II at the Ayala Center in Makati City yesterday afternoon, police said.

Another explosive device was found in the area and bomb squad experts were trying to defuse it, said Southern Police District director Senior Superintendent Manuel Cabigon.

He claimed that a pillbox bomb was thrown by a "hip hop" gang in an altercation with a rival gang. However, none of the suspects was arrested as they were able to scamper away, he said.

The explosion shattered windows in stores in Glorietta and along a pedestrian bridge connecting the mall to a parking building.

"It's an improvised homemade explosive," said Metro Manila police director Senior Superintendent Edgar Aglipay. "There was no timing device, no (grenade) lever."

Police identified six of the injured as Anna Mae Ena, 16; Andrei Bulamit, 11; Christian Remulocio, 13; Tetchie Sabardo, 18; Dr. Roberto Morina, 38; and Dr. Belisarda Cachico. They were all rushed to the Makati Medical Center.

Cabigon said the explosion occurred shortly before 5 p.m. along a pedestrian bridge connecting a parking building to the mall's Fashion Cafe restaurant and Synergy amusement center.

Witnesses saw bloodied people fleeing the area and glass shards littering the street below.

In a television interview earlier, Cabigon said that the explosion was not connected with the threat of Muslim rebels to bomb key cities.

Witnesses claimed a package was placed inside or next to a restaurant that was closed down months ago.

"The bomb appears to have been put inside a plastic bag," Cabigon said later. "There is a second package there, and we are trying to defuse it."

The sprawling three-story center is owned by the Ayala Corp., the oldest business conglomerate. -- With wire report