Suspected Islamic militants set off powerful bombs in a southern Philippine town on Monday, killing at least 10 soldiers and civilians

Suspected Islamic militants set off powerful bombs in a southern Philippine town on Monday, killing at least 10 soldiers and civilians despite extra tight security because of threats of attacks by the Islamic State group-aligned militants, military officials said.

Regional military commander Lt Gen Corleto Vinluan said at least five soldiers and four civilians were killed in the first attack when bomb attached to a motorcycle exploded at noon near two parked army trucks in front of a grocery and a computer shop in Jolo town in Sulu province.

Bomb attack “It was a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device which exploded while our soldiers were on a marketing run,” Vinluan said.

A second blast nearby, apparently from a female suicide attacker, occurred about an hour later and killed the bomber and a soldier, Vinluan and other officials said.

A third unexploded bomb was reportedly found in a public market. Jolo was immediately placed in a security lockdown by troops and police.

Bomb attack

Nearly 40 soldiers, police and civilians were wounded in the bomb attacks, military and police officials said.

The first bombing was carried out near a town plaza and a Roman Catholic cathedral in the predominantly Muslim province.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, but the military blamed an Abu Sayyaf militant commander, Mundi Sawadjaan, for the bombings.