Philippines : Bomb at New Year’s Eve Party Kills 6

A bombing at a New Year’s Eve party on a southern Philippine island has killed six people and wounded at least six others.

The Philippine military said an improvised explosive device was used in the attack, which hit the town of Sumisip, on Basilan island.

There has been no claim of responsibility and the motive for the attack is not known.

Militant Islamic groups, including the notorious Abu Sayyaf group, which has links to al-Qaida, are known to operate on the island.

Abu Sayyaf has been blamed for a wave of bomb attacks, kidnappings and beheadings in the southern Philippines.

The group has been fractured by a government anti-terror campaign in recent years, but continues to carry out attacks.