Manila police confirms IED found near US Embassy

The Manila Police District on Monday afternoon confirmed that an improvised explosive device (IED) was found near the United States Embassy.

A radio dzBB report said that according to MPD chief Senior Superintendent Joel Coronel, parts of the IED found along the southbound lane of Roxas Boulevard include an 81-mm mortar, a 9-volt battery, cellular phone, a switch device and a blasting cap.

Coronel said that based on initial investigations, the device found near the US Embassy was similar to the IED used in the night market bombing in Davao City last September, which prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to declare a state of lawless violence.

The dzBB report said that according to Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa, the Maute Group could have planted the IED.

The IED was found by a street sweeper of the Department of Public Works and Highway in a trash can along the boulevard at past 7 a.m.

A section of the boulevard, from the US Embassy to Kalaw Avenue, was closed as members of the MPD's bomb squad detonated the IED.

Street sweeper Ely Garcia told radio dzBB in an interview that they saw a cellular phone with black and red wires connected to a black circular object.

She said the phone and the circular object were covered with electrical and packing tapes. —ALG, GMA News