A gunman has killed 36 people, including himself at the Resorts World Manila casino in the Philippines.
Earlier in the day, the SITE Intelligence Group had reported that a "Filipino ISIS operative" said the militant group's "lone wolf soldiers" were responsible for the attack - though that report appears to have been contradicted by Philippine authorities.
Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella has ruled out a link between the casino attack and the ongoing operation against Islamist militants occupying several neighborhoods of Marawi, who are seeking recognition from Islamic State.
Cops rejected the claim and said there is "no truth" in this.
"Thirty-six deaths, this is due to suffocation", Manila police chief Oscar Albayalde told CNN Philippines. "They have this reputation of claiming all atrocities all over the world to perpetuate themselves to gain global notoriety".
The sequencing of ISIS' claims is not unusual.
We reiterate that there was only one gunman involved in this senseless, senseless attack. Dela Rosa added that the suspect appeared to be Caucasian.
The attacker stormed the building, opened fired and torched game tables, sparking panic inside the casino. Police later searched a vehicle and found registration information which they didn't make public.
Stephen Reilly, the resort's chief operating officer, said only guards on the complex's perimeter are armed.
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"We see no terrorism in this act", the spokesperson said.
The footage showed guests frantically running for the exits, the sound of gunshots and smoke coming from the upper floors of buildings.
They say the gunman fled with $2 million in stolen casino chips, then forced his way into a room in an adjoining hotel and killed himself.
'We are looking into a robbery angle because he did not hurt any people and went straight to the casino chips storage room.
The police are said to be investigating the incident and the hotel has been locked down in the meanwhile.
"He lay down on the bed, covered himself in a thick blanket and apparently doused himself in gasoline".
Around dawn, the body of the suspected gunman was found in a hotel room in the complex, which is close to Ninoy Aquino International Airport and an air force base.
Apolinario said witnesses told the police the suspect did not harm them.
Two of the Taiwanese casualties were employees of the casino, a man and a woman both surnamed Lai, while the two others, a couple surnamed Hung, were tourists, reports said.
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