MANILA, Philippines — A security expert cast doubts on the claim that the Resorts World attack was an act of terror, saying the robbery motive suspected by the police is more likely.
"It is still unclear what is the real score. I would tend to believe the claim that it was a robbery," Joseph Franco, an analyst specializing on counterinsurgency and counter-terrorism, said.
"If it was really a lone-wolf attack, there would be more casualties."
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Shortly after the attack early Friday, the SITE intelligence service, which tracks jihadist activity online, said an Islamic State-linked Filipino operative who provides daily updates on the ongoing clashes in Marawi claimed that "lone wolf soldiers" were responsible for the attack.
Distributed across several pro-ISIS Telegram chat groups was an English message by the operative detailing that the attacker intended to burn the casino as the activities inside were haram, or forbidden, by Islam.
The attack in the hotel and casino complex happened amid fear that militants in Marawi might stage an attack elsewhere to divert the attention of government forces quelling the siege there.
READ: Travel alert issued against Philippines after Resorts World attack
Lone wolf attack a 'sign of weakness'
Franco said a lone wolf attack is actually a sign of weakness. He noted that ISIS-inspired lone wolves resort to such operations because there is no organization to plug into. In the Philippines, however, terrorism is more organized, he added.
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The Philippines' top cop Ronald dela Rosa has denied that ISIS is behind the attack. He said the gunman armed with an assault rifle didn't shoot at anyone, not even the guard who chased him, which is why there is no indication that the incident is terror-related.
The only gunshot wound sustained was self-inflicted after a guard in the complex accidentally shot himself as he was pulling out his gun, Dela Rosa said. However, this was countered by Resorts World Chief Operating Officer Stephen Reilly.
Dela Rosa said they are looking at robbery as the motive.
"He entered armed and went to the gaming area, burned it. He might be angry as he lost. He went to the storage room of the chips," Dela Rosa said in a mix of English and Filipino.
A bag containing P113 million worth of gambling chips was found by authorities inside the toilet.
Hundreds fled the casino after warning shots were fired. Over 70 people were hurt in the ensuing stampede. Others suffered injuries after smashing windows on the second and third floors to escape.
Eyewitness: Suspect was regular gambler
It is unclear how the gunman was able to smuggle gasoline and an assault rifle inside the crowded casino. The man's car at the parking lot is being examined.
Closed-circuit television footage obtained by the police showed him ignoring a guard who tried to question him at the entrance and heading straight to the gambling area.
Investigators are also checking the sprinklers and fire alarms inside the establishment. At least 36 died from choking fumes after the unidentified attacker set fire on the gambling tables.
The gunman, himself, was found dead inside a room on the 5th floor of the Maxims hotel. Dela Rosa described the attacker as "white, with a mustache" and about 6 feet tall.
An injured man lies on the floor after explosions rang out early Friday, June 2, 2017, at the Resorts World Manila complex near Manila's international airport in the Philippine capital, sparking a security alarm amid an ongoing Muslim militant siege in the country's south. Tikos Low via AP
A client of the Resorts World, Jeff Santos, said that the suspect was not a terrorist but a regular gambler at the casino.
Dela Rosa said the suspect apparently blanketed himself on the bed, doused gasoline on him, then set himself on fire.
The security expert said that contrary to organized assaults, which are more devastating but easier to preempt, lone wolf attacks have a relatively low casualty count.
Although he said the latter are harder to detect due to the "smaller signature" involved.
Franco also took issue with the term lone wolf.
"Why not call them lone actor. Wolf gives them legitimacy and makes them sound fierce," he said. — with reports from AP