One people was killed and 19 others wounded in two explosions in southern Philippines on Friday, local media reported.
An eight-year-old girl was killed while 19 others were wounded when two improvised bombs went off around 7 p.m. local time (1100 GMT) Friday in Kidapawan City in North Cotabato, police said.
Chief Inspector Leo Ajero, Kidapawan City police chief, said that the bombs exploded in front of the Sugni Store along Quezon Avenue, near an old bus terminal, according to a report of the Philippine Daily Inquirer posted on its website.
Inspector Benjamin Mauricio of the Kidapawan police intelligence division, in a separate phone interview, said the first bomb was attached to a parked multi-cab vehicle and exploded under a crowded minibus, killing Hannah May Lozada, a eight-year- old fruit vendor.
Five minutes later, another bomb, which was left along the road, exploded.
A military commander said the bombs were made of 60-millimeter mortar shells with timing devices.
Investigators were eyeing terrorism and extortion as possible motives for the incident.
Probers also said that most of the injured victims are college students.
Another report, by Philippine radio DZMM, said one was killed and 26 others were wounded.
Nobody has claimed responsibility for the blasts.
Kidapawan City in the province of Cotabato is a favorite tourist destination near the majestic Mount Apo, the country's highest peak.
In January two people were injured in a bombing in the city believed to have been the work of Islamic militants.
The attacks came as the military hunts down Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiyah rebels on the nearby islands of Jolo and Basilan.
The bombings also occurred as government peace negotiators hinted Friday that a new round of talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the main separatist group in the south, may take place later this month.
Source: Xinhua
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