Thread: The Big Bang Theory

This week has been rather interesting to say the least. Monday at 1.45pm, philippine time, almighty great bang, followed a split second later by almighty great aftershock that wobbled the windows up here on the 36th floor. Much panic caused, stared out of floor to ceiling windows, probably not the best idea after an explosion, finally made it down to street level to be greeted by most of the condo occupants, smart bomb squad pickup truck that looked as though it had just been pimped, loads of cops milling around and more TV crews than will be at this summers olympics all staring or filming a small hole in the vacant lot next door!
Monday was a bank holiday for Chinese New Year, so there were no injuries to anyone, usually there are many people walking through, so pretty lucky. Three windows in the gym on the sixth floor, the windows of two parked cars on the street and the condo opposite had one window broken all by flying stones.

Couple of friends had already posted news on FB and other social media along with accompanying pictures of the general melee.
Everyone wanted to know what it was, bomb? Illegal chinese firecracker? Terrorist attack? Cops said 'explosive device!" No flies on them.
Opposite condo is a synagogue, probably the only one in Manila. He was sure that he was the intended target. I pointed out that the Saudi Embassy is just up the road, so they could have been the target. He was less than impressed.

Got interviewed by a TV crew, well actually everyone got interviewed by one tv crew or another, much to the chagrin of all of the filipino staff who were now adding to throng waiting for their fifteen minutes of fame.
"Are you worried about this terrorist attack?" asked a v young reporter.
"NO" I replied adding "that they must be pretty dumb terrorists to blow-up a vacant lot." Later I began to worry about my glibness.
We all watched the local news that evening, only to see who we could see! Last time we watched was the Royal Wedding of last year as one of our friends was appearing to give a 'British" perspective! Apparently a few of the staff said they had seen me and I immediately offered them my autograph, which was surprisingly declined???

Now the conspiracy theories have begun, a judge has moved into the condo and this was a warning to him from a 'Gang'. No I don't like that one. Considering that the chief justice is being impeached, no I'm not going there!
The lot on the other side of the vacant lot is usually full of cars, I mean chock-a-block full. They belong to a car-hire firm and are taken out as and when needed. On that Monday the place was empty, not a car in sight!
Today I'm informed by a reliable source, a friend who has contacts in the cops, that they have stated, privately, that it was an 80mm mortar round!!! Eeek!!

Now I wish to appeal to those experts in military hardware on this forum;
a) if there is such a thing as an 80mm Mortor shell? I thought that they were 88mm or other such odd numbers?
b) wouldn't said shell leave fragments all over the place? No metal fragments were to be seen when we first got downstairs, plus the collateral damage would have been far greater, much more devastating that a few stones through windows. All of the windows just had small holes punched in them, none were completely broken or fell out. Hence my theory about the illegal chinese firecracker, blew all of the cardboard surround to tiny fragments!
c) wouldn't the crater be a sight larger than the puny little dent in the ground that is currently there, will try and post a photo later.

Anyway we are all ok and I'm just off to purchase a nice matching his'n'hers kevlar suit for me and the memsahib.

a) China has an 82 mm mortar, the Type 87.

Even closer is the M29 mortar, an 81 mm shell. This is used by your army.

b) It depends if the shrapnel was removed. This is likely if it was just a scare tactic.

c) Depends, we'd have to see the dent, and the material. It also depends if it was home-made or military grade, which uses High Explosive. A home-made one would probably use something less potent.

Thank you Kang, I tip my hat to your knowledge. Not only were you right on the money, but I never knew one could remove the shrapnel from a mortar round, but that it what appears to have happened. Have included a couple of photos of the dent

Today we received an official security advisory from the school that it was an IED, (improvised explosive device), consisting of an 81mm mortar round of the type used by the Philippine Armed Forces. Military grade explosive that caused damage in excess of 200 meters away. It was remotely detonated by mobile phone, (cell phone), signal and battery by unknown individuals and as yet no one has claimed any responsibility. The IED was detonated on the corner of the vacant lot right next to where the path that runs the length of the condo joins with the pavement. Thankfully because it was a bank holiday no one was injured. If this had been a normal working day there would at that time have been many people using the path.

Staff and their spouses from the British, Japanese and International schools reside at the condo and at this time the evidence thus far indicates that none of us were the targets. Not quite sure how they have arrived at this conclusion!
It could be linked to the ongoing impeachment trial of the Chief Justice, as a similar incident occurred back in 2008 during the impeachment of the then President Arroyo, however this is just speculation and the police investigation is ongoing.

A second device exploded in Taguig yesterday, home of the three schools, and this was initially thought to be linked. The police discovered that this was an older smaller device, that may well have been dug up. It was taken to a local blacksmiths, where police tried to deactivate or open it! The reason being their belief that there would be cash or precious metals inside! This was a common misconception that dates back to the Marcos era. Inevitably that explosion has now been put down to gross negligence.

The biggest bug bare for most in the condo appears to be the insistence of the condo security to call it a small explosion, which believe me it wasn't.

Once again many thanks for knowledge and insight.

Yup, scare tactic. If they had meant to kill someone, it would have had shrapnel, and the guy with the phone would have waited until his target was walking past it. I'm interested in knowing how someone got a hold of a mortar round from your military.

This is the Philippines, with cash you can just about bribe / buy anything!
Disgruntled Army officers, President Aquino is trying to clean up a lot of the corruption, guess he's treading on some pretty powerful and wealthy toes!

Good for him though.