MANILA, Philippines (PNA) – At least two persons were killed and six others were hurt when an improvised explosive device (IED) went off outside an elementary school in Jolo, Sulu around 5:20 p.m. Thursday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said.

PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz said most of the victims were pedicab drivers.

Cruz said in a text message that the explosion took place about 10 meters from the gate of the Salih Ututalum Elementary School (SUE) in Barangay San Raymundo not far from the Globe Telecom Cellular site.

Witnesses said the IED was dropped by a motorcycle-riding suspect whose probable target was the PNP-Special Action Force (SAF) who just passed by the area from checkpoint operations.

Cruz said the tricycle drivers were waiting for commuters, but the school was already empty when the incident took place.

Nobody owned up to the explosion yet, Cruz said as previous bombings in Jolo and nearby areas were blamed on the Al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group, a ragtag band of self-styled Islamists that shot to notoriety because of its high-profile kidnappings.

Earlier, firefight between Army soldiers and Abu Sayyaf bandits broke out in Sacol Island, about 30 kilometers from Jolo.

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ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Xinhua) - Five people were killed while three others wounded in a homemade bomb blast in the southern Philippine town of Jolo around 5:20 p.m. Thursday, police said.