2 bomb explosions in clothing store

Two bombs exploded in short succession on 18 December 2008 at a department store and clothing store in Iligan City, located approximately 500 mi/800 km south of Manila in the southern province of Lanao del Norte. The blasts killed three people and injured 48 others. The bombs -- described as homemade devices filled with nails -- detonated approximately 15 minutes apart, beginning at 1325 local time (0525 UTC). The Unicity Commercial Center and Jerry Supermart were targeted in the attack, which occurred the day before a scheduled visit by Filipino President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Although there was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, Islamist militants are suspected due to previous attacks carried out in the southern Philippines by these groups.