A masked gunman was spotted by hotel employees, firing down from the second floor at guests and staff. Another employee reported five shots fired from the third floor. Filipino news channel ANC said there were two gunmen in total.
#BREAKING
— ersin (@e_sklt) June 1, 2017
A resort in Manila is on lock down after gunfire erupted at the complex in Pasay City shortly after midnight of Thursday pic.twitter.com/SXGYA7RlrW
Fire broke out, and plumes of smoke were spotted rising from the resort. One witness told news site ABS-CBN that someone poured a flammable liquid on a casino table and then set it ablaze.
Mahigit isang oras na ang paglabas ng usok mula sa bahagi ng Resorts World Manila. | via @michael_delizo pic.twitter.com/9qSGxzghba
— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) June 1, 2017
The Manila Times reported at least 25 injured, with others still trapped in the hotel. Videos of the wounded being rushed to the hospital have surfaced online.
Photos of wounded guests inside Resorts World Manila following reports of ISIS attack. pic.twitter.com/wJXhazhBeV
— Josh Caplan (@joshdcaplan) June 1, 2017
The explosion occurred at a resort complex and popular tourist destination, Resorts World Manila (RWM). The complex is in Pasay, part of the Manila metropolitan area, and is next to Manila's airport, Ninoy Aquino International. One of the airport's terminals was put on lockdown, according to a Ninoy Aquino spokesman.
Resorts World Manila: Explosions, gunfire reported in Philippines — CNN https://t.co/XLdTHFlSUz #news pic.twitter.com/VCsfPY3aE7
— Jane (@Cyberwebby) June 1, 2017
RWM reported being under lockdown after unknown men opened fire, and were working with police to keep guests and employees safe. "We ask for your prayers during these difficult times," they said in a tweet.
Some pics from Manila Resort coming in to CNN now… still unclear what's happened #Manila pic.twitter.com/zmmnkLvDh7
— Jason Morrell (@CNNJason) June 1, 2017
A Daesh member in the Philippines has claimed responsibility for the attack. While the Philippines has been embroiled in a battle with Islamic militants, that fight has taken place primarily in the southernmost regions of the archipelago, not the capital.
#Manila Resorts World hotel complex attacked by IS https://t.co/tFX2AAz8Yj pic.twitter.com/vI1G8HcDwy
— Duke_of_Monton (@Duke_of_Monton) June 1, 2017
The Philippines' armed forces said police had regained control of the incident only an hour or so after it was first reported.
#BREAKING: Massive police & army forces outside #Manila hotel — @michael_delizo pic.twitter.com/MNTpnvjZPS
— Amichai Stein (@AmichaiStein1) June 1, 2017
"We are monitoring the situation. The police is on top of the situation. We will issue a statement when we have a complete picture of the incident," military spokesman Restituto Padilla said.
UPDATE: A police chief has told AP that there is no evidence that the attack was a terrorist incident, and that there have been no confirmed reports of gunshot wounds.
