Philippines arrests suspects of bomb attempt near US Embassy

One of the two suspects was a converted Muslim, arrested in Manila’s neighbouring province of Bulacan. The other was a Muslim captured in Manila’s outskirts.

Earlier, the Philippine media reported the discovery of a suspicious object near the US Embassy on November 28. It was found in a bin along with a mobile phone and wires connected to a round black object.

Manila police chief Oscar Albayalde said that police are looking for three to five other suspects.

He said there is high possibility that the Maute group is behind the case, referring to the extreme Islamic group which pledged loyalty to the so-called Islamic State.

The group is suspected of launching a bomb attack on November 29 which injured seven guards of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and two soldiers in Mindanao