Manila, Philippines (CNN)Survivors smashed through windows to flee as dozens perished trapped by fire in a casino in Manila.
A heavily armed man walked into the Resorts World Manila early Friday in the Philippine capital, shooting gambling machines and setting fires that resulted in the deaths of 37 people. A gunman entered the Resorts World Manila complex early Friday and set fire to the gambling tables, unleashing smoke that killed 37 patrons and casino employees. He fled with $2 million in stolen casino chips, then forced his way into a room in an adjoining hotel and killed himself.
Police insisted the attack was not related to terrorism despite ongoing conflict with ISIS-linked forces in the country's south.
But ISIS claimed responsibility late Friday. A statement from the ISIS-affiliated Amaq News Agency said "Islamic State fighters" carried out the attack.
Police said casino security shot and wounded the gunman, who then retreated to a hotel room and doused himself in gasoline and died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Georgina Alvarez, chief legal officer for Resorts World, choked up as she read the names of the dead to reporters and family waiting outside the casino.
Of the 37 victims, management said 13 were casino employees while the rest were guests. Police haven't identified the bodies of six people, including two employees and four guests.
Their bodies were found on the second floor of the building, spread across the casino area, the hallways and a bathroom, police said. They died due to suffocation from smoke when the suspect deliberately set fire to carpets and tables using gasoline he brought with him. The windows were locked.
