Suicide bombers strike in Southern Philippines : Aftermath of the attack in Sulu province

Philippine military officials say Muslim militants allied with the Islamic State group have set off a powerful motorcycle explosive followed by a suicide bombing that together killed 14 people, many of them soldiers.

Troopers secure an area after two explosions struck the town of Jolo, Sulu province southern Philippines. At least 75 soldiers, police and civilians were wounded in the midday bombings in Jolo town in southern Sulu province, regional military commander Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan said.

The bombings were staged as the government grapples with the highest number of coronavirus infections in Southeast Asia. Vinluan said most of the victims, including children, were killed and wounded in the first attack, when a bomb attached to a motorcycle exploded near two parked army trucks in front of a grocery store and computer shop in Jolo.

Police attend to their injured at a site of an explosion in the town of Jolo, Sulu province southern Philippines. A second blast, apparently from a female suicide attacker, occurred about an hour later and killed the bomber, a soldier, a police commando and wounded several others, a military report said. It said the suspected bomber walked out of a snack shop, approached soldiers who were securing a Roman Catholic cathedral and ``suddenly blew herself up.''

Volunteers attend to an injured man after two explosions struck the town of Jolo, Sulu province southern Philippines. Snipers were deployed in the area to guard against more bombers as the victims were carried to an ambulance.

Police and military secure the site of an explosion in the town of Jolo, Sulu province southern Philippines.

A third unexploded bomb was reportedly found in a public market. Jolo was immediately placed in a security lockdown by troops and police. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque condemned the bombings ``in the strongest possible terms.''