Bomb Attacks Hit Manila

M A N I L A, Philippines, Dec. 30 -- A string of powerful bombs ripped into the Philippine capital at midday today local time, killing at least 14 people, injuring as many as 100 others and sending thousands of panicked residents rushing from buildings in fear of more blasts.

No one claimed responsibility for the attack, but there was noshortage of theories. Police made one arrest and hinted thatextremist Muslim rebels could be involved. A presidential spokesmanimplicated communist rebels. And the powerful political oppositionhinted at unidentified forces who want to distract the populationfrom President Joseph Estrada’s impeachment trial.

A statement from Estrada’s office appealed for calm and saidpolice would guard public areas, particularly transportationcenters.

Five blasts hit Manila in all, the first four — on a train and abus and at an airport and a park — nearly simultaneously.

Train Blown Apart

The explosion on the train was the most destructive: It blew thelight railway transport train’s front coach apart as it pulled intoManila’s Blumentritt Station at noon. At least nine people died andscores were hurt.

Shattered holiday gifts and lunch baskets were strewn for yardsaround at the busy station. In the coach, emergency workers steppedamong bloody newspapers and mangled seats as they covered upcorpses.

“The train was approaching when I heard the explosion in thefront coach,” said Mari Vicpaglan, a ticket clerk at the railwaystation. “It was so loud. I tried to help them. I felt dizzybecause of the number of people pleading for help.”

Explosions Across City

Elsewhere, a bomb exploded in a bus inside the main bus terminalin Quezon city, in the greater Manila area. At least one persondied, 15 were hurt and the terminal was severely damaged.

A third blast came near a large aviation fuel depot at Manila’sNinoy Aquino International Airport. At least six people were hurt,said an airport official, but the fuel depot did not explode.