Incident Summary:

02/20/2006: An explosion rocked the Philippine presidential palace, Malacanang Palace, in Manila, but caused no injuries or damage. The Young Officer Union of the New Generation and Reformist Armed Forces of the Philippines (YOU-RAFP) claimed responsibility for the attack and said that the blast had started a "series of explosive protest activities that will continue and even escalate until Gloria Arroyo leaves the presidency." However, police said that the blast was not caused by explosives, but by chemical combustion in a garbage can. On the same day, another explosive device exploded in Manila's financial district of Makati and injured a boy, while a grenade found outside of the National Printing Office was detonated safely by police. It was unknown if the three attacks were connected.

GTD ID:
200602200013

When:
2006-02-20

Country:
Philippines

Region:
Southeast Asia

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

Metropolitian Manila

City:
Manila

Location Details:
The incident occurred in the Barangay 830 neighborhood of Manila

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Bombing/Explosion
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Government (General)
Name of Entity Philippine president
Specific Description Malacanang Palace
Nationality of Target Philippines
Additional Information
Hostages No
Ransom No
Property Damage No
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Explosives Unknown Explosive Type
Weapon Details
Police said that the blast was not caused by explosives, but by a chemical reaction in a garbage can.
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?No
Part of Multiple Incident?No
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Doubt Terrorism Proper (more) No
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Young Officer Union of the New Generation and Reformist Armed Forces of the Philippines (YOU-RAFP) (suspected) Yes (Confirmed: Unknown; Mode: Unknown)
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators Unknown
Number of Captured Perpetrators 0
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 0 Fatalities / 0 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities 0
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 0
Total Number of Injured 0
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured 0
Sources
"Blast Rocks Philippine Palace Grounds, No Casualties,” Agence France Presse, February 20, 2006.
“2nd Roundup: Explosion Rocks Philippine Presidential Palace,” Deutsche Presse Agentur, February 20, 2006.
“Soldiers Group Claims Responsibility for Blast at Philippine Presidential Palace,” Taliba, February 21, 2006.