Manila: ISIS claims Philippines casino attack, but doesn’t give evidence

(CNN) — ISIS has claimed responsibility for an attack at a casino in the Philippines capital that left more than 37 people dead, despite repeated police claims it was not terror related.

A lone gunman entered the Resorts World Manila in the early hours of Friday morning, firing shots from an assault rifle and setting fire to gambling tables. More than 37 people died in the resulting blaze, most of them believed to be from suffocation.

A statement released by ISIS’ Amaq news agency said “Islamic State fighters carried out” the attack. However, ISIS has not released names or pictures of the alleged “soldiers” who carried out that attack, which they tend to do.

Police had said on multiple occasions that the attack was not related to terrorism, and emphasized that there was only one person, not multiple attackers involved. Philippines government forces are currently fighting ISIS-linked militants on the southern island of Mindanao, where the two sides have been battling for control of the city of Marawi for over a week.