Police in the Philippines detonated a suspicious package Monday that turned out to be an improvised explosive device left near the U.S. embassy. The incident prompted a road closure and major traffic jams as a bomb-disposal unit cleared the device. Chief Supt. Oscar Albayalde of the Manila Police told local media the device used an 81 mm mortar—the same as what was used in a Sept. 2 bombing in Davao City. According to Albayalde, a witness said someone had thrown the device out of a taxi at around 2 a.m. It was found by a street cleaner at about 6 a.m. Police conducted a sweep of the surrounding area after detonating the IED and said they didn’t find any other suspicious objects. The U.S. embassy has not yet commented on the incident.
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