Attacks Kill at Least 5 in Philippines

Grenade blasts ripped through a market and a movie theater in the southern Philippines on Saturday, killing at least five people as more U.S. troops arrived under tight security to join a growing American force on a new front in the campaign against terrorism.

One grenade exploded at dawn near a crowded market on Jolo, an island about 600 miles south of Manila, authorities said. At least five people were killed and more than 40 people were injured.

Hours later, a grenade exploded at a movie theater about 75 miles away in downtown Zamboanga, the region’s largest city, injuring at least five people watching “The Lord of the Rings.”

The theater is about four miles from the Philippine military’s Southern Command headquarters, where the U.S. personnel are staying.

Philippine officials said they suspected the Abu Sayyaf, a Muslim rebel group U.S. officials say has been linked with Al Qaeda.

The 30 to 40 U.S. Special Forces troops who arrived Saturday are joining 250 Americans already in Zamboanga for a six-month exercise focusing on Basilan, an island about 20 miles south of Zamboanga where the guerrillas have been holding an American missionary couple captive for months. The U.S. contingent is to grow to 660.

Asked if they fear for their safety, a U.S. major, who asked to be identified only as Sam, said, “Honestly, no. We know that there is a risk and that’s part of the job.”

Meanwhile, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said police arrested the suspected leader and 10 other members of the Pentagon Gang, a group that U.S. officials say has terrorist ties and that has been blamed for kidnapping wealthy Filipinos and foreigners.