Bomb found in Zamboanga jeepney

ZAMBOANGA CITY (AFP) – A homemade bomb was recovered from a commuter vehicle here, a week after a deadly bomb blast killed a US soldier and three Filipinos, officials said yesterday.

The bomb was stashed on a jeepney by an unidentified passenger late Wednesday and was discovered later by the driver, regional police chief Simeon Dizon said.

The device was packed with nails similar to the one that exploded Oct. 2, but has a missing trigger, Dizon said, hinting that it may have only been intended to scare people.

The police have no suspects, Dizon said, declining comment whether the incident might be related to the fatal Oct. 2 blast near a military depot that killed US Green Beret Sgt. Mark Jackson and two Filipinos.

About 20 people were wounded in the blast, including another US serviceman.

The explosion was blamed on the Abu Sayyaf, an Islamic militant group linked by both Washington and Manila to the al-Qaeda network of terror mastermind Osama bin Laden.

A Jordanian national detained in Manila on immigration violations may be linked to the bombing, the military has said, though no evidence has as yet been presented.

Four other foreign nationals are also under surveillance for possible links with the attack.

The FBI and US military officials are assisting Philippine authorities with the investigation. – With Roel Pareño