At least 37 people are dead after a casino and hotel complex in the Philippines was attacked early Friday morning local time.
According to CNN Philippines, the gunman entered the casino portion of Resorts World Manila around midnight. He reportedly set several casino tables on fire and attempted to steal casino chips worth roughly $2.3 million. Southern Police District Superintendent Tomas Apolinario told the BCC the gunman did not shoot directly at people inside the casino.
The gunman later killed himself inside the hotel portion of the resort. He has yet to be identified.
An ISIS operative claimed the gunman was one of the group's "soldiers," but local authorities in the Philippines have yet to definitively rule the incident was a terror attack.
Philippine forces have been combating an ISIS-linked militant group for control of Marawi, a city located in the southern part of the country.
Police did not report any casualties in the resort attack until after officers recovered the gunman's body, hours after he initially entered the casino.
Resorts World Manila said in a statement that at least 35 of the victims were either resort employees or guests.
A local outlet reported the majority of the victims died of smoke inhalation. More than 50 others were injured.
