Tuesday 19 / August / 2025
A former security guard shot dead one person and took 30 hostages at a shopping mall in the Philippines on Monday, authorities said.
The suspected gunman shot a man as he entered the administrative section of the mall in the capital Manila, city mayor Francis Zamora said.
"He is carrying a pistol. He is shouting he has a grenade but we don't have any way to confirm that for sure," Zamora told reporters.
Zamora said the gunman "felt bad because he was removed as a guard."
Armed police gathered outside as negotiators attempted to end the standoff peacefully.
The man who was shot was in a stable condition, according to authorities.
The Virra Mall, located in Greenhills, an upscale part of the city, was evacuated. The shopping complex is popular for its restaurants, shops, bars and a bazaar. It is near a residential complex, a golf club and the police and military headquarters.
The local branch of the Red Cross said on Twitter it had dispatched several ambulances to the scene.
In 2010 a heavily-armed ex-police officer hijacked a bus in the city, leading to the deaths of eight Hong Kong tourists during a days-long ordeal.
The Philippines has the highest death rate due to firearms in Asia and a very high rate of gun ownership.
