World 10
Ashburton Guardian
Monday, June 5, 2017
www.guardianonline.co.nz
■ PHILIPPINES
Video shows gunman in Manila casino attack Security footage shows the man responsible for one of Manila’s deadliest attacks in years casually exiting a taxi just after midnight and walking calmly into a vast entertainment and gambling complex like any other visitor. Shortly afterward, he dons a black ski mask, slips on an ammunition vest and pulls an M4 carbine assault rifle out of his backpack. What follows borders on the surreal: a slow-motion arson attack and robbery so methodical and unhurried, the gunman appears to walk much of the way – even as he exchanges fire with a security guard and flees, slightly wounded, up a stairwell. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the rampage at the Resorts World Manila complex. At least 37 patrons and employees died, mostly from smoke inhalation as they tried to hide on the second floor, including one the casino’s VIP rooms, police said. The gunman fled to an adjoining hotel and reportedly killed himself. The video footage shown to reporters, though, bolsters the government’s case that this was a botched robbery by a lone attacker with no known link to terrorism. In his first remarks on the assault, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said the attacker was simply “crazy”. He questioned what the gunman was going to do with the $US2 million ($NZ2.85 million) horde of poker chips he had tried to haul away. He also discounted any links to the Islamic State group, saying this “is not the work of ISIS. The work of the ISIS is more cruel and brutal”. Despite some initially contradictory accounts of the chaos, what is known so far appears to back up that claim. Although the attacker was well armed – Manila police chief Oscar Albayalde said he was carrying 90 bullets in three rifle clips
Plane veers off runway Authorities say an American Airlines plane veered off of a runway at the San Antonio airport during take off and is stuck in the mud. Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Lynn Lunsford said American Airlines Flight 2214 veered off the edge of the runway at San Antonio International Airport yesterday shortly after beginning its take-off roll. He said no injuries have been reported on the Boeing 737. The flight was headed to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. - AP
Eighteenth arrest Police investigating the Manchester bombing have arrested an 18th person. Greater Manchester Police said yesterday a 20-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of offences contrary to the terrorism act in Cheetham Hill Road in the city the previous evening. The Manchester Evening News said the arrest took place at a petrol station not far from the Manchester Arena, where Salman Abedi carried out the suicide bombing as fans left an Ariana Grande concert on May 22. The force said officers also executed a warrant at a house in Princess Road in Moss Side in the early hours of Sunday morning. - PA In this image made from security video released by Manila Police and Resorts World Manila, a gunman walks up a flight of stairs in the Resorts World Manila entertainment and gambling complex in suburban Pasay city, southeast of Manila. Dozens were killed during the attack, mostly from smoke inhalation after the gunman set fires inside. PHOTO AP – there are no confirmed reports that he shot any civilians. Instead, he fired into the ceilings, scattering panicked crowds, some of whom jumped out windows to escape what they believed to be a terror attack. Albayalde said the security footage contained a clear motive: the gunman headed straight for a storage room that contained poker chips. He is seen shooting through several thick white doors, breaking down one of them – only 11 minutes after his arrival. More than 12,000 people were in the complex at the time; most were successfully evacuated. “He could have shot everybody there,” Albayalde added. “He could have killed hundreds of people inside that establishment. But he did not shoot anybody ... he just burned the casino.” By early Sunday, the gunman’s identity was still unknown. - AP
Evacuation drill A town in western Japan has conducted an evacuation drill amid rising fear that a North Korean ballistic missile could hit Japanese soil. More than 280 residents and schoolchildren from Abu, a small town with a population of just over 3400 on Japan’s northwestern coast, yesterday rushed to school buildings to seek shelter after sirens from loudspeakers warned them of a possible missile flight and debris falling on them. The drill follows three consecutive weeks of North Korean missile tests. Last week, a missile splashed into the sea inside Japan’s 200-mile economic zone off the country’s western coast. - AP
Mourners in the Philippine capital, Manila, light candles and lay flowers in front of a memorial outside the Resorts World Manila entertainment complex yesterday. PHOTO AP
Rocket launched
■ BRITAIN
Banksy offers non Tory voters free prints Secretive street artist Banksy could be flirting with electoral law after apparently offering free prints to people who vote against the Conservatives. Banksy, famous for his satirical and politically-themed graffiti, is offering the prints of a new limited edition artwork to people who vote against the Tories in seats in and around Bristol formerly held by the party’s MPs. An announcement on his web-
In brief
site says that a new Banksy piece will be released on June 9, the day after the General Election – a print of his famous balloon girl, but with the red heart balloon replaced with the Union flag. It says: “This limited edition artwork on archival quality paper is completely free, but is only available to registered voters in the Bristol North West, Bristol West, North Somerset, Thornbury, Kingswood and Filton
constituencies. Simply send in a photo of your ballot paper from polling day showing you voted against the Conservative incumbent and this complimentary gift will be mailed to you.” In a “lawyer’s note” disclaimer, it adds: “This print is a souvenir piece of campaign material, it is in no way meant to influence the choices of the electorate, has no monetary value, is for amusement purposes only and is
strictly not for re-sale. Terms and conditions to follow, postage not included.” But the elusive artist may yet fall foul of the law. The Electoral Commission, which oversees elections in the UK, warns that bribery – “where someone directly or indirectly gives any money or procures any office to or for any voter, in order to induce any voter to vote or not vote” – is an electoral offence. - PA
SpaceX has successfully launched a Falcon 9 rocket carrying a capsule packed with supplies for the International Space Station. The rocket launched from Kennedy Space Centre in Florida yesterday, after stormy weather and lightning delayed the launch on Thursday. The Dragon capsule sitting atop the rocket was loaded with 2.7 metric tonnes of supplies and is scheduled to rendezvous with the ISS on Monday, NASA said. The mission marks SpaceX’s 11th cargo delivery for NASA and the 100th SpaceX launch overall, according to the company. It also was the first time SpaceX launched a Dragon capsule that has already flown before. - DPA