Terror alert raised in Philippines

Philippine security officials raised the terror alert to the highest level in two southern regions, including one where authorities foiled a bomb attack on a national athletic event, due to the threat of bombings, police said today.

The terror alert was raised from “high” to “critical” – the highest in a four-level alert system – for the month of May in the mountainous heartland of southern Mindanao island and a nearby Muslim autonomous region where al Qaida-linked militants have a presence, police said.