Australian forensic experts have concluded that the blast which killed 11 and injured scores of others in a mall in the Philippines last month was caused by a gas explosion and not by an explosive device, local media reported on Thursday.
In its 13-page report, the Australian Forensic Police however did not say what had led to the blast although it noted that there were several "potential sources" which included the "sewer gas/fumes which can consist of sulphur dioxide, methane, ammonia; diesel fumes," the Philippine Daily Inquirer said in a report posted on its website.
Australian experts also said that there were no traces of bomb parts.
Aside from the Australian experts, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) also conducted its own investigation into the explosion at the mall in the country's financial hub of Makati on Oct. 19.
The Australian police ruled out bombing as the cause of the blast because "there was no evidence to suggest that the explosion had been caused and/or initiated by an improvised explosive device."
The report added that even the FBI forensic team "had not located any evidence to suggest the use of an explosive device at the crime scene."
At the same time, the Australian police recommended the examination of maintenance records of the mall, specifically those of the basement, scene of the explosion.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) refused to make public there port of Australian experts while investigations were ongoing.
The Ayala Land Incorporated, which operates the mall, had wanted to see a copy of the report so that they could comment.
The Australian police, who assisted the local task force in its own investigation, arrived on Oct. 20 and left on Oct. 27, Inquirer said.
In their seven-day investigation, the Australian experts established that "the gas explosion occurred and originated in the basement."
This conclusion matched the results of the PNP's initial investigation.
Earlier, PNP Chief Avelino Razon said that their investigators were close to ruling out a bomb as the source of the explosion.
And although RDX, an ingredient of bomb component C4, was found from pieces of evidence from the blast site, it was possible that this did not come from a bomb. RDX could be reportedly found in toothpastes or deodorants.
The Australian experts also said that based on their observations, the explosion occurred after a pressure build-up in the basement of the mall.
As soon as investigators have established conclusively that the explosion was an accident, charges of negligence resulting to multiple homicide and serious physical injuries are likely to be charged against the tenants and/or owner of the origin of explosion, local authorities have said.
Source: Xinhua
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