Philippine van blast claimed by IS kills 11

A bomb exploded in a van in the restive southern Philippines on Tuesday, killing 11 people at a military checkpoint in what militant group Islamic State called a suicide attack for which it claimed responsibility.

The blast took place on Basilan, the island stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf group notorious for kidnapping and banditry, which was the home of the former “emir” of Islamic State in Southeast Asia, killed last year by Philippine troops.

A suspected bomber, a soldier, five paramilitary troopers and four civilians, including a mother and her child, were killed and seven people were wounded in the blast, an army spokesman said. In a statement carried by its Amaq news agency, Islamic State claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing attack, which it called “a martyrdom operation” by a Moroccan man.

MANILA:

IS CLAIMS KILLING 4 FOREIGNERS IN TAJIKISTAN

Islamic State claimed responsibility for an attack which killed four Western tourists in Tajikistan. To bolster its claim, the group released a video on Tuesday purportedly showing attackers pledging allegiance to the militant group.

The four Western cyclists were killed on Sunday when a car ploughed into them on a rural road. After the crash, the attackers also stabbed their victims.