Gunman Causes Carnage at the Resorts World Manila
June 2, 2017 12:04 pmOn Thursday evening, the Resorts World Manila in the Philippine capital became the scene of a horrific attack by a lone gunman which left thirty-six people dead, and at least 70 more injured. According to details so far, the crazed intruder had planned on robbing the casino, and when he entered the building fired his assault rifle in the air, and not at the gathered people. As Southern Police District Superintendent Tomas Apolinario, explains:
“We have some injured people and we have some dead as well, but none of them have gunshot wounds.”
Instead, the gunman created confusion and chaos by setting the gaming tables, furniture and rugs alight with petrol, while taking the opportunity to stuff a bag with $2.3 million worth of gambling chips. It was the subsequent fires and toxic smoke that resulted in many of the casino’s visitors dying from suffocation, while numerous other were also injured while fleeing the carnage. So far, authorities seem to believe that the incident was not terrorist related, with the assailant described as being “mentally disturbed”. Trying to make sense of the attack, Oscar Albayalde, Manila’s chief of police, stated:
“It’s either he lost in the casino and wanted to recoup his losses or he went totally nuts.”
After exiting the casino at midnight and heading to a room in the adjoining Maxims hotel, the deranged man subsequently committed suicide, and as national police chief Ronald Dela Rosa explains:
“He lay down on the bed, covered himself with a thick blanket, apparently poured petrol on the blanket and burned himself.”
The Resorts World Manila opened for business back in 2009, with the integrated casino resort a huge draw for people wishing to stay at its hotels and attend its conference facilities, or visit its three-floored casino, numerous restaurants, shopping mall, and theatre. Commenting on the disturbing turn of events, a statement released by the Resorts World Manila described the incident as a “cowardly act of a deranged mind”.