MANILA, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- A person of interest has been taken into custody in connection with the "car bombing" that killed 11 people and injured seven others in the southern Philippines, authorities said on Thursday.
Authorities said the suspect Indalin Jainul, 58, also known as Abdulgani, is in custody as the investigation continues to get into the bottom of the July 31 "car bombing" in Lamitan City in Basilan, an island province off Mindanao island.
Authorities alleged that the suspect is a preacher and has allegedly helped the Abu Sayyaf militants in the province, a known stronghold of the Islamist extremist groups that pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in the Middle East.
But authorities are still trying to cull evidence that will link the suspect to the July 31 bombing. So far, police have only found grenades from the suspect.
Police are preparing to file criminal charges against Jainul, including illegal possession of explosive.
There are no other details on how the suspect ended up in police custody.
The suspect could face charges of multiple murder, multiple serious physical injuries if proven guilty.
Authorities also said that they had identified the owner of the van used by the bomber who also died when the van exploded.
A powerful bomb rigged to the vehicle exploded on Tuesday at 5:50 a.m. local time at a military checkpoint in Colonia village in Lamitan City in Basilan, an island province off Mindanao.
