Philippine authorities search for clues to identify casino gunman but remain adamant Islamic State was not involved

Philippine authorities said Saturday they still did not know the identity of the gunman who killed 37 people when he torched a casino, but insisted he was not an Islamic State (IS) terrorist.

The masked man stormed into the Resorts World casino and hotel complex in the capital of Manila on Friday with an M4 automatic rifle and a bottle of petrol, before setting alight one of the main gaming rooms.

Thirty-seven people died in the fire, dozens more were injured in a stampede to escape, and the gunman was found dead about five hours later in a hotel room after committing suicide by setting fire to himself, police said.

IS claimed responsibility, with a report on its self-styled Amaq news agency saying its “fighters” carried out the attack, but Philippine authorities continued to insist Saturday that a mentally disturbed man had been attempting a bizarre solo robbery.

“They [IS] may claim credit but, according to evidence, it is not so,” presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said. “The evidence at this stage points to the actions of an emotionally disturbed person who was apparently engaged in criminal actions.”