Philippine authorities killed three suspects of an Islamic militant group in Manila on Thursday near the Congress, where a blast killed four people on Tuesday.

Police also arrested three suspects after they’ve raided a militant hideout, AFP reports.  

According to Major Ernesto Torres, Philippine Army spokesman, “there are indications that they have something to do with the blast.”

Authorities went in the town of Payatas to arrest suspected kidnappers and where met with gunfire.

Torres said that three of the suspects, probably members of Abu Sayyaf, were killed and three others were arrested. One police officer was injured in the clash.

The arrest warrant was issued for kidnappers that had no connection with the blast on Tuesday, said National police Chief Avelino Razon.

On Thursday, Razon said that the bomb was used to hit a certain target.

From police investigation it resulted that the maker of the bomb had experience and supports the theory that the explosion was aimed for Muslim congressman Wahab Akbar, who was killed in the blast.

Razon said: “The one who made this bomb was pretty experienced. It is sophisticated.”
He added that the way the bomb went off created a 180-degree blast arc in order to hit Akbar as he was leaving the Congress building.

According to Manila police chief Geary Barias the police scientists identified the TNT in the bomb and added that “it could have been dynamite sticks” in the bomb.

Police found a mobile phone which allegedly was used to set off the bomb and nails used as shrapnel. It appeared that the bomb was hidden in a motorcycle parked outside the Congress building.

Military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Buenaventura Pascual said that this was the second time when he saw a similar bomb detonated by phone, and the first time it was in 2004. It had Abu Sayyaf hallmark. Still, this didn’t confirm the fact that the group was behind the attack.

The Philippine government offers a five-million-peso (116,100-dollar) reward for information that could lead to the arrest of the bomber.