A bomb exploded this afternoon at a crowded market in this southern city, killing at least 13 people, officials said. Abu Sayyaf, a militant group that the United States has linked to Al Qaeda, claimed responsibility in the attack. About two dozen people were seriously injured and taken to a hospital, said Superintendent Danilo Posadas of the Koronadal police. Two hours later, another bomb was found near the market but taken away by a police bomb squad to be defused. Mayor Fernando Miguel said Abu Sayyaf claimed responsibility in a telephone call. In a radio interview, Mr. Miguel said that a man identifying himself as Abu Solaiman called him shortly after the blast, at 3:30 p.m. local time, and warned of “more bombings in the days to come.” The man had been calling since last year demanding $75,000 a month to spare Koronadal from bombings, the mayor said, adding that he had refused. There was no independent confirmation that the call came from Mr. Solaiman, who has been linked to bombings farther south and is one of five Abu Sayyaf leaders with a $5 million State Department bounty for his arrest. Full Story
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