8 HK tourists killed in Filipino bus hijack

PHILIPPINE security forces stormed a bus packed with Hong Kong tourists to end a dramatic hostage crisis that unfolded live on global television, leaving eight people and the gunman dead.

The day-long ordeal on Monday began when a disgruntled ex-policeman armed with an M-16 assault rifle and dressed in combat pants hijacked the bus in Manila's tourist district in a desperate bid to get his job back.

Hong Kong tourists killed after ex-policeman hijacks bus
A former senior Filipino police inspector, who lost his job last year, took a busload of 22 Hong Kong tourists hostage yesterday, setting off a dramatic day-long standoff that ended in bloodshed after police commandos stormed the bus.

At least seven hostages were killed and one was critically wounded. Several were shown on television crawling out of the bus after police assault teams moved in.

Philippine police defend handling of deadly hostage crisis
Philippine police on Tuesday defended their handling of a bus hostage crisis that left eight Hong Kong tourists dead, but acknowledged some tactical "shortcomings".

Manila police commander Leocadio Santiago said his personnel had made the correct decision in allowing the stand-off to drag on for more than 10 hours before storming the bus on Monday.

Asked if police followed correct procedures, he replied: "Yes".

But he said there were some areas of concern.

"We saw some obvious shortcomings in terms of capability and tactics used, or the procedure employed and we are now going to investigate this," he said.