Since January 2022, there have been three separate IED attacks targeting buses in the Philippines. All three attacks had a similar TTP – the IED was placed in the back of the bus under one of the seats and was RC-initiated using a mobile phone. The three attacks were not particularly successful in terms of number of casualties, apparently due to the unsuccessful timing of the initiation of the IEDs.
IED attacks on buses are not new in the Philippines. The phenomenon has been documented in the southern Philippines and even in the capital, Manila, since the early 2000s. Over the years, criminals and terrorists have employed this attack TTP, with the main motive usually being extortion or counterterrorism activity in a particular area. The last three attacks occurred one after the other, had a similar TTP, and appeared after years in which no such attacks were carried out in the Philippines. In addition, this time, the Islamic State East Asia (ISEA,) which operates in the Philippines, officially claimed responsibility for an attack on April 24, 2022.
These recent IED attacks undermine security and stability in the Philippines, and demonstrate the need for extra awareness on the part of bus drivers and workers at bus terminals toward passengers mounting the buses, and for frequent bus scans.
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