ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Security forces thwarted a bomb attack by suspected Abu Sayyaf terrorists with the discovery of an improvised explosive device (IED) at a wharf in Jolo, Sulu on Saturday night.
The IED was found near the offices of the harbor master and the maritime police at past 6 p.m., according to Lt. Col. Alaric delos Santos, spokesman for the Western Mindanao Command.
The Philippine Coast Guard’s K-9 unit was inspecting the pier when its bomb-sniffing dog stopped beside an abandoned item.
Troopers of the Army’s 35th Infantry Battalion cleared the area of people and waiting passengers as bomb experts assessed the situation.
Based on the assessment, Delos Santos said the IED was not as powerful as those that were used in last month’s twin attacks that killed 14 people.