Philippine blast caused by bomb - police sources

MANILA, Oct 19 (Reuters) An explosion which killed eight people and wounded 70 in a shopping mall in the Philippine capital Manila on Monday was caused by a bomb, police sources said.

The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said traces of C4 plastic explosives were found at the location. The bomb appeared to have been left near a cellphone repair shop at the bottom of an escalator, they said.

Police initially said the blast was caused by an exploding cooking gas cylinder, but later ruled out that theory.

REUTERS ARB PM1515