ISIS claims Philippines casino attack despite police denial

ISIS claims Philippines casino attack despite police denial

By James Griffiths, Jinky Jorgio and Hamdi Alkhshali,

Updated 1333 GMT (2133 HKT) June 2, 2017
Firemen arrive at the Resorts World Hotel following an assault in Manila on June 2, 2017. Thirty-four bodies were found in a casino complex after a gunman started a fire in the building, the local police chief said. / AFP PHOTO / NOEL CELIS (Photo credit should read NOEL CELIS/AFP/Getty Images)

Now Playing Philippines: The next ISIS...
Gunfire heard at Resorts World Manila
Witness: Manila attacker lit bottle of fluids
Manila resort
Smoke seen from Manila resort roof
cnnee vo disparos en centro comercial en filipinas _00001302.jpg
Reports of gunman wearing mask in resort
resorts world manila philippines gunfire explosions update _00005323.jpg
Gunfire, explosions heard at Manila resort
Firemen arrive at the Resorts World Hotel following an assault in Manila on June 2, 2017. Thirty-four bodies were found in a casino complex after a gunman started a fire in the building, the local police chief said. / AFP PHOTO / NOEL CELIS (Photo credit should read NOEL CELIS/AFP/Getty Images)
Dozens die in Manila casino attack
MARAWI CITY, PHILIPPINES - MAY 25: Soldiers run for cover to evade sniper fire while trying to clear the city of armed militants, one street at a time, on May 25, 2017 in Marawi city, southern Philippines. Gun battles between ISIS-linked militants and Filipino troops erupted in Marawi city on Tuesday when gunmen from the local terrorist groups Maute Group and Abu Sayyaf rampaged through the southern city, prompting President Rodrigo Duterte to declare 60 days of martial law in Mindanao. Thousands of residents were reported to have fled from Malawi city while at least 21 people were killed, including a police chief who had been beheaded and buildings were torched by the terror groups. President Duterte said the influence of Islamic State is one of the nation's top security concerns, and martial law on Mindanao island could be extended across the Philippines to enforce order, allowing the detention of people without charge. (Photo by Jes Aznar/Getty Images)
Now Playing
Philippines: The next ISIS stronghold?
Witness: Firefighters unable to enter complex
Video shows people fleeing Philippines resort
Gunfire heard at Resorts World Manila
Witness: Manila attacker lit bottle of fluids
Manila resort
Smoke seen from Manila resort roof
cnnee vo disparos en centro comercial en filipinas _00001302.jpg
Reports of gunman wearing mask in resort
resorts world manila philippines gunfire explosions update _00005323.jpg
Gunfire, explosions heard at Manila resort
Firemen arrive at the Resorts World Hotel following an assault in Manila on June 2, 2017. Thirty-four bodies were found in a casino complex after a gunman started a fire in the building, the local police chief said. / AFP PHOTO / NOEL CELIS (Photo credit should read NOEL CELIS/AFP/Getty Images)
Dozens die in Manila casino attack
MARAWI CITY, PHILIPPINES - MAY 25: Soldiers run for cover to evade sniper fire while trying to clear the city of armed militants, one street at a time, on May 25, 2017 in Marawi city, southern Philippines. Gun battles between ISIS-linked militants and Filipino troops erupted in Marawi city on Tuesday when gunmen from the local terrorist groups Maute Group and Abu Sayyaf rampaged through the southern city, prompting President Rodrigo Duterte to declare 60 days of martial law in Mindanao. Thousands of residents were reported to have fled from Malawi city while at least 21 people were killed, including a police chief who had been beheaded and buildings were torched by the terror groups. President Duterte said the influence of Islamic State is one of the nation's top security concerns, and martial law on Mindanao island could be extended across the Philippines to enforce order, allowing the detention of people without charge. (Photo by Jes Aznar/Getty Images)
Philippines: The next ISIS stronghold?
Witness: Firefighters unable to enter complex
Video shows people fleeing Philippines resort
Gunfire heard at Resorts World Manila

(CNN)ISIS has claimed responsibility for an attack at a casino in the Philippines capital that left more than 37 people dead, however police have continued to deny that the incident was terror related.
A lone gunman entered the Resorts World Manila in the early hours of Friday morning, firing shots from an assault rifle and setting fire to gambling tables. Most of the victims are believed to have died from suffocation.
Philippines police released images of the heavily armed suspect.
Philippines police released images of the heavily armed suspect.
ISIS made the claim of responsibility that "Islamic State fighters carried out" the attack in a statement released by its Amaq news agency on Friday. However, ISIS has not released names or pictures of the alleged "soldiers" who carried out that attack, which it tends to do.
Rejecting the claim, police said there was "no truth" to the assertion.
"They can always claim whatever they want to claim," said Philippine national police chief Oscar Albayalde. "They have this reputation of claiming all atrocities all over the world to perpetuate themselves to gain global notoriety. There is no truth that the incident is a terror act."
Police had previously said on multiple occasions that the attack was not related to terrorism.
Philippines government forces are currently fighting ISIS-linked militants on the southern island of Mindanao, where the two sides have been battling for control of the city of Marawi for over a week.