Jesus Take The Wheel: 35 Killed, Over 70 Injured After Attempted Robber Sets Fire To Filipino Casino Before Burning Himself To Death
This story is downright crazy! Our thoughts and prayers are with those who lost loved ones in Manila after a man barged into the Resorts World casino in Manila and began dousing tables with gasoline before setting them ablaze — ultimately killing 35 people and injuring more than 70 others after he attempted to make off with over $2 million in casino chips. The man fled to a nearby hotel room where he committed suicide by setting himself on fire. ISIS attempted to take credit for the attack on social media, however, authorities in the Philippines say it’s unlikely that this was a terrorist incident.
According to CBS News reports:
“Initial findings of police investigation of the Resorts World incident this morning, 2nd of June 2017 Thursday (Friday) show that there are no indications of terrorist activity,” Secretary Ernesto Abella, Philippine presidential spokesperson, said. “All indications point to a criminal act by an apparently emotionally disturbed individual.”
“Either he lost in the casino and wanted to recoup his losses or he went totally nuts,” said Metropolitan Manila police chief Oscar Albayalde. While an Islamic State of Syria and Iraq (ISIS)-linked Filipino said on social media that “lone wolf soldiers” of the Islamic State group were behind the attack, police noted the man didn’t shoot anyone he encountered. The only gunshot wound was a guard at the complex who accidentally shot himself, authorities said.
“He would have shot all the people gambling,” if his goal was terrorism, national police chief Ronald dela Rosa said. None of the bodies had gunshots, authorities said.
Police saw no connection to nearly two weeks of fighting with Muslim militants aligned with the Islamic State group in the southern city of Marawi.
Security footage shows the gunman ignoring a guard who tried to stop him at the entrance of the resort, then he is pictured heading into the casino, according to dela Rosa. After stuffing a a backpack with stolen gambling chips, the gunman fired his assault rifle at TV screens and began pouring gasoline onto the gaming tables from a 2-liter bottle he carried before setting them on fire.
The man responsible for the attack was describled by dela Rosa as about 6 feet tall, “white, with a mustache,” and English speaking. As guests and employees of the casino attempted to escape the flames, the gunman headed to a room on the 5th floor of Maxims Hotel at the resort, forcing his way in. Police say he then laid down on the bed, covered himself with a blanket before pouring gas on himself and setting himself on fire. He was not carrying any identification, according to police.
Cops believe his motive was to make off with the bag of chips, which had an estimated value of over $2million. That bag was found in the toilet.
Meanwhile Cheeto seems to have conveniently embraced the ISIS claims of responsibility. He offered thoughts and prayers to the victims from the White Houe Rose Garden, saying “It is really very sad as to what’s going on throughout the world with terror.”
SMH. Can’t blame everything on terrorism as hard as they try. It will be interesting what comes out about the identity of the white guy with the stache who wreaked all this havoc. Not that we can trust whatever they do come up with.
Stay safe y’all and stay woke.
Photo Credit: RODY/AFP/Getty Images
