It has been suspected that the grenade attack in a certain karaoke bar in Jolo, has been the work of the Abu Sayyafs who were now holding the three Red Cross volunteers, Filipina Mary Jean Lacaba, Italian Eugenio Vagni and Swiss national Andreas Notter.

Men believed to be members of the Abu Sayyaf group tossed the grenade into a karaoke bar on Jolo island late Monday, police said.

It is believed that the blast came just hours after the Abu Sayyaf commander was reportedly wounded in a clash with troops. They did this to divert the attention of the milatary.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is concerned about the latest violence, and warned that it could place the hostages in danger.

The ICRC’s head of operations in Asia, Alain Aeschlimann, said that he was able to speak with the hostages by phone March 11. Their fate after the fighting Monday remained unknown.

The Abu Sayyaf has not made public demands for ransom, although local officials trying to secure their release have said they received demands for a million dollar ransom. The claim however could not be independently verified.

The Abu Sayyafs has kidnapped many foreigners, businessmen and religious workers over the past decade. They are  on the US government’s list of foreign terrorist organizations. They are also blamed for the deaths of two American hostages seized from a Philippine resort in 2001, one of whom was beheaded.

Two people were killed in this grenade attack and 4 were wounded. People who were believed to be innocent ones.

Source: Inquirer.net