Islamic State claimed responsibility for an attack on a casino and hotel in the Philippines where at least 34 people died.
Tourists fled in panic from the Resorts World Manila, near the main airport in the capital, as columns of smoke rose from the building. Armed police sealed off the area after reports of gunshots around midnight.
Police said the gunman killed himself after firing at officers during a stand-off. Investigators believe he set himself alight and burned to death in a hotel room.
The 34 victims are thought to have died from suffocation caused by smoke after the gunman set casino tables alight in the resort.
Police played down claims of a terror attack, suggesting that the incident was a botched robbery attempt.
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However, the SITE website, which monitors communications from Islamist groups, reported that a “Filipino operative” of Isis who provides daily updates on the group’s activities said that the attack was carried out by “lone wolf” soldiers.
Videos posted on the internet, apparently from security cameras, showed two figures in green and black clothes, holding rifles and with faces masked, moving through an area filled with fruit machines as people fled. It was not possible to verify the footage immediately.
However, hours later police said they had killed a gunman and he had no accomplices. They said he probably was not a terrorist.
“We are looking into a robbery angle because he did not hurt any people and went straight to the casino chips storage room,” Ronald dela Rosa, head of the national police, said.
“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.”
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Mr dela Rosa described the suspect as “foreign-looking, a Caucasian, about six feet tall”. Police said he was armed with an M4 assault rifle. “He’s dead. He was killed by our troops,” Mr dela Rosa said.
Maricel Navaro, an employee of Resorts World, told DZMM radio: “I was about to return to the second floor from my break when I saw people running. Some hotel guests said someone yelled ‘Isis’. Guests were screaming. We went to the basement locker room and hid there. When we smelt smoke we decided to go for the exit in the car park. We heard two gunshots and there was thick smoke on the ground floor.”
The company’s Twitter account said: “Resorts World Manila is currently on lockdown following reports of gunfire from unidentified men. We ask for your prayers during these difficult times.”
President Trump said that he was closely monitoring events in Manila. “It is really very sad as to what is going on throughout the world with terror. Our thoughts and our prayers are with all of those affected,” he said.
The attack on the hotel came as troops and police at the other end of the Philippines were struggling to contain an uprising by Islamists, including foreign fighters inspired by Isis.
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Eleven soldiers were killed and seven wounded when an air force fighter jet bombed them as they engaged in close combat with Islamists of the Maute group. The incident is the latest disastrous mistake to have embarrassed President Duterte, who has imposed martial law on the island of Mindanao.
The Philippine armed forces and police have failed to regain control in Marawi, a city of 200,000 people, from a few hundred guerrillas. At least 24 civilians, 30 members of the security forces and 120 Maute fighters have been killed. Among the dead were eight foreign jihadists from five countries.
In the past Manila has played down reports of foreign fighters among the many Muslim militant groups fighting or kidnapping for ransom. But last week Jose Calida, the solicitor-general, said that the rebellion had “transmogrified into invasion by foreign terrorists who heeded the clarion call of Isis to go to the Philippines if they find difficulty going to Iraq or Syria”.
More than 3,000 soldiers, marines and air force personnel, supported by 30 fighter aircraft, are fighting some 500 militants holed up in Marawi, a predominantly Islamic city on the shores of Lake Lanao.