36 die from smoke in Philippine casino after gunman set fire to gambling tables
Jim Gomez
A gunman stormed a crowded Manila casino early Friday and used gasoline to set gambling tables on fire, creating clouds of smoke that killed at least 36 people, police said. The gunman fled with more than $2 million in stolen casino chips, then forced his way into a room in an adjoining hotel and killed himself.
Authorities suspect the man, who has not yet been identified, was trying to rob the casino at Resorts World Manila, a complex of hotels, restaurants, stores and a sprawling multi-floor gambling area.
"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 group-linked Filipino said on social media that "lone wolf soldiers" from the 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.
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