
At least 37 people were killed last night after a 'white, English-speaking' masked gunman attacked a casino in Manila, stole £1.7million ($2.3million) worth of betting chips and set fire to tables before he 'burned himself to death'.

It is understood many of the victims were women who suffocated due to smoke inhalation as crowds battled to get to the exits.

Despite the fact the the Philippines is battling ISIS and the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, national police were quick to insist that the incident was a robbery gone wrong.

Witnesses said the gunman, who had an assault rifle, entered the Resorts World Manila casino in Pasay City, Philippines, shortly after midnight on Thursday before opening fire on betting terminals and televisions.

It sparked mass panic and the man, who was seen on camera unmasked but later said to be masked during the attack, was then seen pouring fuel over tables and setting them ablaze while gamblers were fleeing for their lives.

Explosions were also heard coming from the tourist hotspot and bloodied victims were seen being stretchered out of the building.

A Resorts World Manila official said the dead, who all died from smoke inhalation, included 13 employees and 22 guests.

Philippine police said they're looking to speak to a person of interest in connection to the attack, though the COO of Resorts World Manila has insisted that only one person was involved.

Before the gunmen had been killed and police had confirmed any motive, the Islamic State group claimed responsibility and US President Donald Trump also branded it a 'terrorist attack'. It was later revealed that the incident was likely a robbery gone wrong.

CCTV footage of the gunman who left 37 people and injured dozens more when he stormed the Resorts World Manila in Pasay City, Philippines before wrapping his body in a blanket on a bed in a hotel room and dousing himself in gasoline

The gunman who stormed a Manila hotel casino has died after setting himself on fire during, police said

A family grieves as they wait for the body of a relative to be recovered from a hotel at the Resorts World Manila complex on Friday

Relatives of a victim cry outside the Resorts World Hotel in Manila on Friday after a toxic blaze just before midnight on Thursday

Witnesses said the gunman, who had an assault rifle, entered the Resorts World Manila casino in Pasay City, Philippines, shortly after midnight on Thursday before opening fire on betting terminals and televisions. Pictured above, relatives of a victim outside the hotel

A Resorts World Manila official said the dead, who all died from smoke inhalation, included 13 employees and 22 guests. Pictured above, relatives of a victim cry outside the hotel

Relatives and co-workers of victims grieve as they receive news of their loved ones at a hotel at the Resorts World Manila complex

Before the gunmen had been killed and police had confirmed any motive, the Islamic State group claimed responsibility and US President Donald Trump also branded it a 'terrorist attack'. It was later revealed that the incident was likely a robbery gone wrong. Pictured above, relatives of victims grieve as they receive news of their loved ones

Firemen break a glass window of the Resorts World Hotel following an assault in Manila that left 36 dead from smoke inhalation

Security inspects a man at the entrance of the hotel at the Resorts World Manila complex, a day after a gunman stormed the building and started a fire

A South Korean foreign ministry official said one South Korean died at the casino after the unidentified person was evacuated.

The official said the person likely suffered a heart attack but an autopsy would be carried out to determine the cause of death.

Three South Koreans suffered minor injuries from smoke inhalation or during the evacuation, the official said.

The incident unfolded amid a ten-day deadly siege by Muslim militants aligned to the Islamic State group in the southern city of Marawi.

It sparked fears that militants may attack elsewhere to divert the focus of thousands of troops trying to quell the siege.

US President Donald Trump Thursday expressed sadness and sympathy for victims of what he labelled a 'terrorist attack' at a casino in the Philippines capital Manila.

Trump made his comments before National Police said that the incident was likely a robbery gone wrong, not an ISIS attack.

'We're closely monitoring the situation,' Trump said in response to the gunfire attack, which was quickly claimed by the Islamic State group. 'But it is really very sad as to what is going on throughout the world with terror,' he said. 'Our thoughts and our prayers are with all of those affected.'

Resorts World Manila COO Stephen Reilly made a statement about the incident on Friday.

As he held back tears, Reilly said that security officers shot and wounded the gunman, which slowed him down during the attack.

'Severe loss of blood significantly slowed down the assailant and resulted in him holing up in a room where he took his own life,' he said.

Reilly added that at least one security officer suffered a gunshot wound.

Relatives react after finding a casino employee, center, safe at the Resorts World Manila complex in suburban Pasay city, on Friday

A South Korean foreign ministry official said one South Korean died at the casino after the unidentified person was evacuated. Pictured above, Philippines' soldiers stand in front of the Resorts World Hotel

A tourist wearing a bathrobe gestures after he was evacuated from the Resorts World Manila early Friday morning

Police officers are seen outiside the Resorts World Hotel in Manila after a gunman stormed the building and started a fire

The shooting started at the popular Resorts World Manila in Pasay City, Philippines at about midnight local time. Victims were carried out of the tourist hotspot after a gunman opened fire

Explosions and gunfire were heard coming from the tourist hotpot and bloodied victims were seen being stretchered out of the building

He did, however, insist that only one gunman was involved.

We reiterate that there was only one gunman involved in this senseless, senseless attack,' he said. 'On behalf of the victims, families, and loved ones, we request everyone from spreading hurtful speculation and false information.'

National police chief Ronald Dela Rosa said a 'foreign looking, Caucasian gunman' had stormed the second floor of one of the complex's four hotels and fired an automatic rifle at TV monitors, before setting gaming tables alight.

He stuffed a backpack with casino chips before he fled but was found dead in an adjacent hotel early Friday of an apparent suicide.

The man did not shoot anyone, but more than 70 people suffered minor injurie in the stampede and from the smoke, while one security guard accidentally shot himself in a panic, Dela Rosa said.

The gunman disappeared into the chaos of smoke and running people, leading to a manhunt throughout the casino, hotel and shopping complex that ended just after dawn.

Dela Rosa initially said police killed the assailant who was hiding in a hotel room, but later told reporters the man committed suicide.

Some seven hours after the attack began police confirmed the gunman had killed himself, wrapping his body in a thick blanket on a bed in a hotel room and dousing himself in gasoline.

Philippine authorities swept through the burnt casino after the siege, reportedly finding at least 37 bodies and taking 54 people to hospital.

Most of the victims died as a result of smoke inhalation during the chaos.

Resorts World Manila COO Stephen Reilly made a statement about the incident on Friday. As he held back tears, Reilly said that security officers shot and wounded the gunman, which slowed him down during the attack

Some seven hours after the attack began police confirmed the gunman had killed himself

Police confirmed the gunfire reports at Resorts World, which is across a road from one of the main terminals of the Philippines' international airport

The bodies were found in the smoky gambling room by firefighters and all died from suffocation and smoke inhalation, Metropolitan Manila police chief Oscar Albayalde said. None of the bodies had gunshot wounds.

The room was carpeted and the tables were combustible, he said. Investigators were going to check if the water sprinklers in the hotel worked.

CASINO FIRE NOT LINKED TO ISIS Islamic State claimed responsibility for the fire at the Manilla Casino, but the Philippine police chief said there was no evidence that the attack was terrorism. The SITE monitoring service, which tracks white supremacist and jihadist activity online, said an Islamic State-linked Filipino operative who provides daily updates on the ongoing clashes in Marawi claimed 'lone wolf soldiers' of the Islamic State group were responsible for the attack. An English message by the operative was distributed across several pro-IS Telegram chat groups, SITE said. According to SITE, the message says the attacker intended to burn the casino because the activities inside were haram, or forbidden by Islam. Authorities, however, suspect the incident happened after a robbery-gone-wrong. National police chief Ronald dela Rosa said 'We cannot attribute this to terrorism without concrete evidence'. 'Don't panic, this is not a cause for alarm. We cannot attribute this to terrorism,' he said. 'We are looking into a robbery angle because he did not hurt any people and went straight to the casino chips storage room. 'He parked at the second floor and barged into the casino, shooting large TV screens and poured gasoline on a table setting it on fire.' Advertisement

The bodies of two of the victims had been taken to the Veronica funeral parlour, staff member Leni Domingo told Reuters.

Around dawn, the body of the suspected gunman was found in a hotel room in the still-smoking complex, which is close to Ninoy Aquino International Airport and an air force base, police said.

'He burned himself inside the hotel room 510,' national police chief Ronald dela Rosa told a media conference. 'He lay down on the bed, covered himself in a thick blanket and apparently doused himself in gasoline.'

Albayalde, chief of the capital's police office, said those that died were in the casino's main gaming area.

'What caused their deaths is the thick smoke,' he told reporters. 'The room was carpeted and of course the tables, highly combustible.'

The attack sent hundreds of people fleeing into the night outside the Resorts World Manila complex and produced a claim of terrorism that police stressed had no evidence to support it.

Videos posted earlier on social media showed people fleeing as several loud bangs were heard.

'Even the security personnel panicked. Maybe because of the heavy firearm, they can't put up a fight so they prioritised life and safety,' Jeff Santos, a high roller at Resorts World Manila, told a Philippine radio station. 'Definitely us patrons we did not expect that, everyone ran away.'

'He would have shot all the people gambling there' if it had been terrorism, dela Rosa said.

Authorities suspect the motive was robbery.

'It's either he lost in the casino and wanted to recoup his losses or he went totally nuts,' Albayalde said.

Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said 'all indications' pointed towards a criminal act by an 'apparently emotionally disturbed individual,' Reuters reports.

'Although the perpetrator gave warning shots, there apparently was not indication that he wanted to do harm or shoot anyone. The 34 deceased all died to suffocation,' Abella said.

During the panic witnesses reported 'armed masked men' in the building's casino. Footage, posted on social media, shows guests fleeing to the sounds of screaming and gunshots.

Mr dela Rosa claimed CCTV footage showed the gunman breaking into the casino storeroom and shoving chips totaling 113million pesos (£1.7million, $2.3million) into a backpack.

Islamic State claimed responsibility, however the Philippine police chief said there was no evidence that the attack was terrorism and added that there were no confirmed reports of gunshot wounds.

The SITE monitoring service, which tracks white supremacist and jihadist activity online, said an Islamic State-linked Filipino operative who provides daily updates on the ongoing clashes in Marawi claimed 'lone wolf soldiers' of the Islamic State group were responsible for the attack.

At least one masked gunman reportedly stormed the second floor of one of the complex's four hotels and opened fire. An armed Filipino policeman is pictured taking position outside the Resort World Manila

A truck with Filipino military personnel arrive outside the Resort World Manila

An English message by the operative was distributed across several pro-IS Telegram chat groups, SITE said.

According to SITE, the message says the attacker intended to burn the casino because the activities inside were haram, or forbidden by Islam.

But dela Rosa said 'We cannot attribute this to terrorism without concrete evidence'.

'Don't panic, this is not a cause for alarm. We cannot attribute this to terrorism,' he said. 'We are looking into a robbery angle because he did not hurt any people and went straight to the casino chips storage room.

'He parked at the second floor and barged into the casino, shooting large TV screens and poured gasoline on a table setting it on fire.'

Dela Rosa said that a gunman with a M4 assault rifle fired five shots in the casino.

Dozens of police trucks and several huge Special Action Force vans and armoured personnel carriers lined side streets near the hotel, casino and shopping mall complex as the drama unfolded.

Gil Yonco, 54, stood weeping in the street at around 5am. His daughter had been on the second floor inside Resorts World and called her father for help because she was being suffocated by smoke.

He tried calling back but there was no answer. 'I am very worried as a parent, I need to find her,' he said.

Relatives of victims gathered later in a parking area could be heard crying.

Crowds of people ran from the complex as smoke billowed from the second floor of one of the complex's four hotels

Witnesses described people jumping from escalators as they tried to escape. Emergency services treated victims on the pavement outside the hotel, casino and nightclub

Kara Verano filmed people running from the complex and described a 'teargas burning' substance in the air as she and her friends hid in a 'restaurant storeroom'

IS has claimed responsibility however the Philippine police chief said there was no evidence that casino attack was terrorism and added that there were no confirmed reports of gunshot wounds

Kara Verano filmed people running and described a 'teargas, burning' substance in the air as she and her friends hid in a 'restaurant storeroom'.

Writing on Facebook she said: 'We were just eating at Bulgogi when we heard gunshots other customers said that there were men coming out of the casino wearing masks and armed.

'We got stuck in the restaurant's storage room for almost two hours with continuous gunshots coming from outside and smell something is burning.. I wasn't sure if it was a teargas or something is actually burning.. it was as if impossible to breakout.'

Kentron Lopez, who works in the resort, described people jumping from escalators as they tried to escape.

Writing on social media, he said: 'Some jumped out from escalators and the second floor to get out.

'We were few of the remaining people who [got] out of the vicinity. I can only imagine how the rest felt.'

Ronald Romualdo, a maintenance worker at Resorts World, said he and his colleagues heard gunshots and saw people smashing the windows on the second floor and third floor to escape.

'We took out a ladder to save them. We were able to save many of them,' he said. 'But one woman I was trying to save fell from the second floor. ... I could not carry her.' He said the woman was not moving afterward, but he didn't know what happened to her.

A casino worker named Julio from the third floor of the complex told DZMM radio he heard many gunshots and saw people running up the stairs from the second floor.

As well as armed officers military tanks were positioned outside the complex in the early hours of Friday morning

A Filipino man is pictured raising his hands to police outside the Resort World Manila hotel in Pasay city, Manila

Footage, posted on social media, shows screaming guests fleeing as gunshots ring out across the resort

Resorts World Manila is opposite Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, and is one of the busiest airport terminals in the country

A car crashed on its roof outside the resort complex during the attack at around midnight local time

Emergency services (left and right) were filmed outside the resort. As well as several hotels the complex includes a casino, shopping centre, cinemas, restaurants, clubs, bars and a theatre

One man, who declined to give his name, told reporters how he and others used curtains to clamber down from the second floor.

Crowds of people ran from the complex as smoke billowed from the roof of one of the hotels.

Resort owner Travellers International Hotel Group Inc , a joint venture of the Philippines Alliance Global Group Inc and Genting Hong Kong Ltd, said authorities were still seeking details.

'We have been informed of several casualties, the number and identities of whom have yet to be determined,' it said in a statement. Its shares were down 7 per cent.

PHILIPPINE SECURITY FORCES BATTLE ISIS IN SOUTHERN CITY AS CLASHES LEAVE 171 DEAD Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte imposed martial law last week across the southern region of Mindanao to crush what he said was a rising threat of Islamic State there. He declared martial law shortly after militants went on a rampage through the southern city of Marawi, which is about 800 kilometres (500 miles) south of Manila. Security forces are still battling the militants in Marawi, and the clashes there have left at least 171 people dead. Duterte said on Thursday said a rebellion on the southern Mindanao island was not the work of rebels from the Maute group but was 'purely ISIS', and he had long warned of Islamic State's imminent arrival in his country. He said Islamist militants being driven out of Iraq and Syria were looking for a new base and the siege of Marawi City was planned a long time ago. He also reiterated that the radicals in the southern Philippines were getting funding from the illicit drugs trade, and said the Maute brothers, who the militant group is named after, were involved in narcotics. Duterte, who has declared war on drugs, has long maintained that narcotics are at the heart of the country's crime and security problems. Advertisement

Resorts World Manila is opposite Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, and is one of the busiest airport terminals in the country.

As well as four hotels, the complex includes a casino, shopping centre, cinemas, restaurants, clubs and a theatre.

About 90 minutes after the attack began, Resorts World Manila said on its Facebook and Twitter pages that it was on lockdown following reports of gunfire and it was working to ensure the safety of guests and workers.

'Resorts World Manila is currently on lockdown following reports of gunfire from unidentified men,' the company said on its Twitter account shortly after the incident.

'The company is working closely with the Philippine National Police to ensure that all guests and employees are safe.'

Stephen James Riley, a Resorts World official, said at the time: 'We are searching the area as much as we can, to make sure it is clear. I can confirm that shots were fired.'

Jeri Ann Santiago, who works in the emergency room at the San Juan de Dios hospital, said most of the patients were suffering the effects of smoke inhalation and some had injuries such as fractures, she said, adding that none had gunshot wounds.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte imposed martial law last week across the southern region of Mindanao to crush what he said was a rising threat of Islamic State there.

He declared martial law shortly after militants went on a rampage through the southern city of Marawi, which is about 800 kilometres (500 miles) south of Manila.

Security forces are still battling the militants in Marawi, and the clashes there have left at least 171 people dead.

There was no evidence linking the attack at the Resorts World Manila entertainment complex to fighting between government troops and Islamist militants in the country's south, said Ernesto Abella, a spokesman for President Rodrigo Duterte.

'All indications point to a criminal act by an apparently emotionally disturbed individual,' Abella told a media conference. 'Although the perpetrator gave warning shots, there apparently was no indication that he wanted to do harm or shoot anyone.'

A spokesman for Resorts World Manila said the complex is 'on lockdown' after the attack

IS said 'lonewolf soldiers' from its group carried out the attack, according to the SITE Intelligence Group that monitors terrorist organisations

On its Twitter account a spokesman appeared to confirm that there was more than one gunman. Guests are pictured outside the resort

Dozens of armed police were stationed outside the hotel as the fate of the gunmen remains unknown

Duterte said last week he may need to declare martial law across the rest of the country if the terrorism threat spread.

Lawrence Ho, the 40-year-old billionaire owner of the City of Dreams casino resort in Manila will increase security at his complex, he said on Friday

Ho's City of Dreams Manila, operated through his company Melco Resorts, is located a few kilometres (miles) from the Resorts World Manila, owned by Travellers International Hotel Group Inc, a joint venture of the Philippines' Alliance Global Group Inc and Genting Hong Kong Ltd .

Ho declined to say how he would increase security but said his casinos already make use of surveillance and counter intelligence measures, metal detectors and security guards.

'We get news about what happens around the region. Occasionally, there are instability within geopolitics in the Philippines and the ASEAN region, so we take it (security) very seriously,' he said.

The Philippines is one of the fastest-growing casino hubs in Asia after Macau and Singapore. The government wants to build a Las Vegas style strip in the middle of the capital.

But security is a major concern that deters big spending gamblers from China, who are wary of kidnapping and extortion incidents in the Philippines in recent years.

'When we first started five years ago, it was perceived very differently than what it is now,' said Ho, adding that growing ties between China and the Philippines at a national level was helping to drive visits and tourism.

Most Manila casinos and hotels have metal detectors at their entrances and they also typically check vehicles before allowing them access.

'It's the fastest-growing gaming jurisdiction in the world. Growth rates in terms of (the) economy is phenomenal,' said Ho.

Armed police surrounded the resort as victims continued to be carried out

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte imposed martial law last week across the southern region of Mindanao to crush what he said was a rising threat of Islamic State

New York Times reporter Rukmini Callimachi tweeted screenshots from the encrypted messaging service Telegram, where IS appear to claim responsibility for the attack