Panic and Chaos in Resorts World Manila as Gunman Attacks Casino, At Least 36 Dead

Today, a man went on a rampage in Resorts World Manila entertainment complex as he burst into the casino firing shots and lighting casino tables on fire.

It was said that the gunman fired only warning shots and ‘showed no indication that he wanted to harm or shoot anyone’. The authorities believed that the gunman’s motives were to rob the casino, of approximately RM9.8 million in fact. However, he failed, and hence killed himself after, reported Channel News Asia.

Gunman’s charred remains after lighting himself ablaze | Source: The Sun

“All indications point to a criminal act by an apparently emotionally disturbed individual,” Abellaa, spokesman for President Rodrigo Duterte, told media.

A Manila police chief later said, “He looks Caucasian, he talks English, he’s big and he’s white, so he’s probably a foreigner.”

“It’s either he lost in the casino and wanted to recoup his losses or he went totally nuts.”

As the casino was being attacked and set ablaze, guests desperately tried to flee the scene. Most of the dead were reported to have died from smoke suffocation. These victims were mainly in the casino’s main gambling area, none of them were shot dead.

About 54 other people suffered from injuries.

Videos that are circulating throughout social media show guests frantically running for the exit and trying to get as far away from the building as possible.

Source: The Sun

The police chief said, “What caused their deaths is the thick smoke. The room was carpeted and of course the tables, highly combustible.”

A Resorts World Manila official said the dead included 13 employees and 22 guests.

In the midst of the chaos, the gunman killed himself inside hotel room 510. He had laid down on the bed, covered himself in a thick blanket and apparently doused himself in gasoline, before lighting himself on fire.

Source: The Sun

“We cannot attribute this to terrorism,” national police chief dela Rosa said.

“We are looking into a robbery angle because he did not hurt any people and went straight to the casino chips storage room. He parked at the second floor and barged into the casino, shooting large TV screens and poured gasoline on a table setting it on fire,” he said.

Gunman waits by the stairwell before attack | Source: The Sun

Duterte declared martial law on the southern island of Mindanao last week and has warned it could become a haven for Islamic State supporters fleeing Iraq and Syria. However, authorities have ruled out terrorism and are looking at the attack as a robbery case.

Also read: Bodies Shockingly Line the Streets of Manila as ‘The Purge’ Continues