(CNN) Thirty-seven people have been killed in a Manila casino, following an attack in the early hours of Friday morning by a lone gunman who fired shots from an assault rifle and set fire to gambling tables.

The victims, who did not appear to have been shot, are thought to have died of suffocation, Southern Police District Director Superintendent Tomas Apolinario said Friday. "Most of the victims were women who were found dead inside the bathroom," he added.

Despite ongoing ISIS-affiliated militant activity in the southern Philippines island of Mindanao, authorities ruled out terrorism as the motive for the attack. However, late Friday, ISIS claimed responsibility in a statement from its Amaq media wing , which said "Islamic State fighters" carried out the attack.

Earlier, authorities said 35 bodies were found in the casino area in Resorts World Manila after a lone gunman fired shots and set fire to gambling tables in the early hours of Friday morning.

Police told CNN Philippines that another two bodies were found in the hotel, although it was not mentioned whether these were hotel guests or employees

Thick smoke from fires set by the suspect delayed a search of the building, but officers later discovered them during clearing operations, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Oscar Albayalde said.

All of the bodies were found in Resort World Manila's casino area, he said. Of those killed, more than 20 were resort guests and 13 were staff. More than 70 people were injured. The gunman later killed himself.

Manila police chief Oscar Albayalde told reporters that police think it's likely the suspect was a foreigner. "He looks Caucasian, he talks English, he's big and he's white, so he's probably a foreigner," he said.

How the attack unfolded

The armed suspect forced his way into the Resorts World Manila (RWM), an upmarket hotel and casino complex near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, around midnight local time (Thursday ET).

According to security footage viewed by police, the gunman entered via the parking lot. Police later searched a car and found registration information which they haven't made public.

The attacker walked straight into the building, past a lone security guard who panicked when she saw the suspect's automatic rifle, Albayalde said.

Reilly said only guards on the complex's perimeter are armed. Internal security officers don't carry weapons, and didn't try to engage the suspect, fearing escalation of the situation, he said.

Video of the scenes showed guests frantically running for the exits, the sound of gunshots and smoke coming from the upper floors of buildings.

Photos: Shooting at Philippines resort Relatives of a victim sit in front of the Resorts World Hotel, a popular tourist site in Manila, the capital of the Philippines that was on lockdown after a shooting on June 2, 2017. A police official said the incident was a robbery attempt by one person and not a terrorist attack. Hide Caption 1 of 10 Photos: Shooting at Philippines resort Firemen break a glass window of the Resorts World Hotel following the assault. Hide Caption 2 of 10 Photos: Shooting at Philippines resort Firemen arrive at the Resorts World Hotel. Hide Caption 3 of 10 Photos: Shooting at Philippines resort A police officer stands guard outside the resort. Hide Caption 4 of 10 Photos: Shooting at Philippines resort Smoke rises from the resort complex, which has an array of hotels, restaurants and bars. Hide Caption 5 of 10 Photos: Shooting at Philippines resort Police take positions outside the resort. Hide Caption 6 of 10 Photos: Shooting at Philippines resort A victim is stretchered away from the scene. Hide Caption 7 of 10 Photos: Shooting at Philippines resort It was not immediately clear how many people were hurt in the attack, which started around midnight on Thursday, June 1. Stephen Reilly, the resort's chief operating officer, later told reporters that about 30 people were hurt and nobody was killed, CNN Philippines reported. Hide Caption 8 of 10 Photos: Shooting at Philippines resort A victim is helped at the resort. Hide Caption 9 of 10 Photos: Shooting at Philippines resort Emergency responders tend to a victim. Hide Caption 10 of 10

The man ransacked a room and stole gaming chips, Philippines National Police Chief Ronald Dela Rosa said early Friday. He had stuffed chips totaling 113 million pesos ($2.3 million) in a backpack, but this had been recovered by police, he added.

Apolinario confirmed that during the incident the gunman had engaged in a "firefight" with casino employees.

Stephen Reilly, the resort's Chief Operating Officer, said the attacker was shot and wounded by security guards, and retreated into the hotel room where he doused a bed he was lying on in gasoline and shot himself.

"We would like to extend our gratitude to our security team," Reilly said.

"He had taken his own life by setting himself on fire followed by a self-inflicted gunshot wound," the statement said. Police confirmed he had died in a room on the fifth floor of the complex's hotel.

CNN Philippines reported he was found in the room, burned beyond recognition, next to an automatic weapon and a .380 caliber pistol.

Emergency responders tend to a victim Friday at the Resorts World Manila.

Witness: 'I could smell some kind of smoke'

Hundreds of guests and employees rushed out of the resort hotel after the gunman began shooting on the second floor, hotel employees fleeing the scene told CNN Philippines.

Jay Dones, a witness on the scene, said some employees had told him a gunman fired shots in the air.

"One of the employees told me that the suspect began pouring the contents of the bottle on one of the tables and lit it on fire," Dones said.

Witnesses also told about hearing what sounded like explosions.

"I could smell some kind of smoke that came from an explosive device," said Tikos Low, who said he was in the resort's casino along with a few hundred other people when the attack began.

The resort was put on lockdown and heavily armed SWAT officers wearing bulletproof vests and body armor descended on the scene.

The gunman didn't appear to be firing at people, said PNP Chief Dela Rosa.

Soldiers stand in front of the Resorts World Hotel following an attack in Manila on June 2, 2017.

Airport locked down

All terminals at Ninoy Aquino International Airport were placed on lockdown because of the attack, according to Robert Echano with airport operations. The airport is about a mile away from the resort.

Later the airport returned to normal operations but was on heightened alert, an airport official said.

Security remains on "high alert" status, a statement from the airport said.

In Quezon City, one of the municipalities in metro Manila, Police District Director Guillermo Eleazar ordered all 12 police stations in the city to set up checkpoints and to maximize police visibility.</s>Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella also denies a claim by ISIS that the terror group was behind the deadly Resorts World Manila attack

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang said it suspects that possible negligence by Resorts World Manila led to the shooting incident that killed 37 people and injured 54 others in the posh casino hotel.

In an interview with state-run dzRB on Saturday, June 3, Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said the Palace shares this view with Duterte ally Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III.

"While tightening anti-terror measures, we share the Senate President's concern of a possible negligence by Resorts World not only in casino security, but also in building design and safety protocols," Abella said.

He added that as gaming regulator, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) "will do a full audit of all casinos."

"On the security lapses of Resorts World Manila, let us allow authorities to finish the investigation, and we'll begin to look into the security breach of Resorts World Manila. Once the investigation is completed, they will submit their findings and recommendations," the presidential spokesman said.

Resorts World Manila earlier denied the alleged security lapses in Friday's incident. Meanwhile, relatives of those who died in Friday's attack complained that Resorts World Manila has not helped them enough.

Abella made his remarks not long after a lone gunman opened fire and burned part of the Resorts World Manila casino – an act claimed by the terrorist Islamic State (ISIS), but dismissed by the Philippine National Police as a case of robbery.

On ISIS' claim that their "fighters" launched the Resorts World Manila attack, Abella said, "They may claim credit but according to our evidence, it is not so."

At the same time, Abella urged "the police, the media, and the public to please avoid speculations."

Official sources have contradicted each other, however, since the shooting incident broke out on Friday.

Authorities themselves have even fueled speculations about the gunman's motive, with investigators citing an unconfirmed report that the suspect lost as much as P100 million* ($2.02 million) from gambling. – Rappler.com</s>What does the attack on Resorts World Manila mean? Is it really a robbery attempt or a terrorist attack?

MANILA, Philippines - Rappler talks to former interior secretary Raffy Alunan on the attack on Resorts World Manila early Friday morning, June 2, 2017.

At least 37 people were killed when a "lone gunman" fired shots and set ablaze gaming tables at the casino floor. Police say the deaths were due to suffocation from smoke inhalation.

Alunan served two Philippine presidents – first as the tourism secretary of President Corazon Aquino, and interior secretary of President Fidel Ramos. He ran for senator in the 2016 elections but lost. He

In 1996, he left government to pursue a Masters degree in Public Administration from the Harvard John F. Kennedy School of Government.</s>Police are still trying to identify the lone gunman who attacked Resorts World Manila on June 2

MANILA, Philippines – Resorts World Manila has promised to give financial assistance to families of those killed during a “lone wolf” attack on the posh entertainment complex.



In a prepared statement read to media on Saturday, June 3, Resorts World Manila Chief Operating Officer Stephen Reilly said the company will give P1 million to each of the families of the victims. 



Some 37 employees and guests were trapped on the 2nd floor of the casino, where VIP guests stay. The gunman, whom police had yet to identify, set ablaze gaming tables as he made his way across the casino, producing thick smoke that suffocated the victims. 



Bureau of Fire Protection National Capital Region (BFP NCR) chief Senior Superintendent Wilberto Rico Neil Kwan Tiu said that based on studies, it takes just minutes for a person to lose consciousness and eventually die from suffocation when trapped inside a burning room. 



Resorts World management will also provide funeral and burial assistance to the victims, said Reilly. 



“Nothing can ever replace the lives of our loved ones. Yesterday, we all lost so many lives because of a senseless act,” he said. 



Relatives of the casualties had earlier lamented the apparent lack of support from the Resorts World. (READ: TIMELINE: Resorts World Manila attack)



The attack was likely an attempted robbery, police insisted, though terror group ISIS had claimed responsibility for the attack. (READ: Terrorism and ISIS at Resorts World Attack?)

Metro Manila police chief Director Oscar Albayalde said none of the evidence, so far, would suggest that was an act of terror. Malacañang reiterated this on Saturday, as it brushed aside the ISIS claim. 



After a brief encounter with casino security and the police, the gunman forced open a hotel room and set the hallway and his room on fire. He eventually shot himself with his M4 rifle. (READ: Officials contradict each other on Resorts World Manila attack)



Police are still trying to identify the gunman, who was described as tall, “mestizo (fair-skinned).” Contrary to earlier statements, police said on June 3 that the gunman was apparently fluent in Filipino. 



Police had earlier spoken to the taxi driver who brought the gunman to the Resorts World Manila complex. Authorities first claimed that the gunman drove himself to the establishment. (READ: Casino targeted with suicide attack because it's 'haram' – ISIS)



Maxims Hotel and Resorts World remain closed to the public. – Rappler.com</s>Police respond to Resorts World Manila in Philippines, serious injures reported

Police responded early Friday morning to an incident at Resorts World Manila in the Philippines and serious injuries were reported, cops said.

Pasay City police told ABC News it’s not clear what the caused the incident, in Pasay City, which is in the metro area of the capital, Manila.

Additional details were not immediately available.

This story is developing. Please check back for more updates.

ABC News’ Ben Gittleson and Will Gretsky contributed to this report.</s>kieferpix/iStock/Thinkstock(MANILA, Philippines) — Police responded Thursday to an incident at Resorts World Manila in the Philippines and serious injuries were reported, cops said.

Pasay City police told ABC News it’s not clear what the caused the incident, in Pasay City, which is in the metro area of the capital, Manila.

Additional details were not immediately available.</s>Gunfire and explosions have been heard at the Resorts World Manila in the Philippines, CNN Philippines reported. Police, fire trucks and SWAT teams are in the area.

Resorts World Manila, also known as RWM, is a resort complex in Newport City with numerous hotels, restaurants and bars.

Tourists flock to the RWM for its casino, shopping mall, cinema and theater. The complex, which is described on RWM’s website as “the first and largest integrated resort in the Philippines,” is located across from Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Developing story – more to come</s>Thirty-four bodies have been found inside Resorts World Manila, which was attacked by a lone gunman in the early hours of Friday morning, according to a local official.

The victims did not appear to have been shot, but indications were that they had suffocated, Bureau of Fire Protection, Southern Police District Director P/Supt. Tomas Apolinario said in an interview that aired on local media Friday.

“Most of the victims were women who were found dead inside the bathroom,” Apolinario said.

The armed suspect forced his way into the Resorts World Manila casino around midnight local time, and starting shooting at gambling machines and setting tables on fire, according to witnesses and police.

Video showed panicked guests running for the exits, the sound of gunshots and smoke coming from the upper floors of buildings.

Hours later, police confirmed the gunman had committed suicide by setting himself on fire in one of the hotel guest rooms. He was found in the room, burned beyond recognition, next to a machine gun and a .380 calibre pistol, CNN Philippines reported.

“The lone gunman committed suicide by setting himself on fire in one of the rooms on the fifth floor of the Resort World Hotel,” the National Capitol Region Police Chief Oscar Albayalde told reporters in Manila Friday.

Resorts World Manila, also known as RWM, is a resort complex in Newport City, a residential and commercial center in metropolitan Manila.

The complex, which is described on RWM’s website as “the first and largest integrated resort in the Philippines,” is across from Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

In a statement posted to its Facebook page Friday, the resort said it had “extended medical assistance to the 54 individuals who were taken to nearby hospitals.”

Its security team, along with the Bureau of Fire Protection, were currently conducting “search and rescue operations on all floors,” the statement said.

Hundreds of guests and employees rushed out of the resort hotel around midnight Thursday (noon ET) after the masked gunman on the second floor began shooting a gun, hotel employees fleeing the scene told CNN Philippines.

Jay Dones, a witness on the scene, said some employees had told him a gunman fired shots in the air.

“One of the employees told me that the suspect began pouring the contents of the bottle on one of the tables and lit it on fire,” Dones said.

Witnesses also told about hearing what sounded like explosions.

“I could smell some kind of smoke that came from an explosive device,” said Tikos Low, who said he was in the resort’s casino along with a few hundred other people, when the attack began.

The resort was put on lockdown and heavily armed SWAT officers wearing bulletproof vests and body armor descended on the scene.

The gunman didn’t appear to be firing at people, said Philippines National Police Chief Ronald Dela Rosa early Friday, as he announced that police weren’t treating the incident as terror-related.

“It’s too early to tell, but so far as we are concerned there was no ISIS,” Dela Rosa said. “If this is ISIS, all the people gambling inside should have been shot or already been bombed. He didn’t hurt anyone. Those who were injured got their injuries when they jumped from the windows,” he added.

The man ransacked a room and stole gaming chips, Dela Rosa said. He had stuffed chips totaling 113 million pesos ($2.3 million) in a backpack, but this had been recovered by police, he added.

Dela Rosa added that the suspect appeared to be Caucasian and had a mustache.

All terminals at Ninoy Aquino International Airport were placed on lockdown because of the attack, according to Robert Echano with airport operations. The airport is about a mile away from the resort.

Later the airport returned to normal operations but was on heightened alert, an airport official said.

In Quezon City, one of the municipalities in metro Manila, Police District Director Guillermo Eleazar ordered all 12 police stations in the city to set up checkpoints and to maximize police visibility.

All mobile patrol units and tactical motorized units of QCPD were deployed to secure the city.

The Philippines has been grappling with incidents of terrorism, especially on the southern island of Mindanao. There, in the city of Marawi, government forces have been battling ISIS-linked militants for control of the city.

The battle for Marawi, a largely Muslim city, has displaced at least 70,000 residents and left 140 people dead. The terrorist siege began last week, just as Muslims worldwide started to mark the holy month of Ramadan.

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law over the island of Mindanao in light of the crisis.

Duterte also suggested he might extend martial law through year’s end or impose it nationwide, alarming critics. On Friday, Dela Rosa ruled out declaring martial law on the main island of Luzon, where Manila is located.</s>At least 36 people died in the Philippines when an upscale hotel and casino complex was attacked in the early hours of Friday morning, local time. AP reports that a Philippine operative of ISIS claimed responsibility, but police say the attack was not linked to terrorism .

Here's what we know so far.

What happened and where?

Gunshots and explosions were heard shortly after midnight Friday local time at Resorts World Manila, opposite the city's airport. Resorts World is a complex of hotels, casinos, shops and restaurants in Newport City, one of the most affluent districts of the Philippine capital.

Police and troops were mobilized to the scene following witness reports of a gunman breaking in, as smoke started coming out of an upper floor gaming room.

National police chief Gen. Ronald Dela Rosa told media that the lone attacker set gambling tables doused with gasoline alight, causing the choking black smoke that led to the fatalities.

What are the casualties?

AP reports that at least 36 people died at the scene from suffocation, while some 70 others were hurt in the rush to escape. Resorts World Manila confirmed in a statement that at least 54 were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.

According to Resorts World, the perpetrator took "his own life by setting himself on fire followed by a self-inflicted gunshot wound."

Who was the attacker, and what was the motive?

So far, authorities say that one gunman, described as Caucasian and foreign, was behind the attack. While U.S. President Donald Trump said publicly that the violence had "terror" links, Dela Rosa said there was no solid evidence linking the case to terrorism.

The gunman took large quantities of gaming chips during the attack, leading some to speculate if it was a bungled robbery. He also shot up gaming machines and ATMs, according to CNN, but did not appear to take aim at patrons.

The attack comes at a highly sensitive time, with the country on alert as government troops attempts to retake the southern city of Marawi from ISIS-linked militants. There have been fears that the terror group would stage diversionary attacks elsewhere in the Philippines, but even if those fears prove unfounded, the apparent infiltration of ISIS into the country's south has experts worried.

"Regardless of the affiliation and identity of the assailants, whether t ied to ISIS or just a criminal group, the attack took place in one of the poshest and safest areas in the country," writes Richard Heydarian, assistant professor of political science at Manila's De La Salle University, in an email to TIME.

President Rodrigo Duterte's efforts to reassure outsiders of the safety of the Philippines would be "an uphill battle," he said, adding that the attack may have exposed intelligence and security failures.

A number of embassies in the Philippines have issued advisory messages for their nationals, reports the Philippine Daily Inquirer . "The deterioration in security in Mindanao has resulted in a more volatile security environment in the Philippines," the Australian foreign ministry said .</s>The popular Philippine tourist site Resorts World Manila was on lockdown after reports of gunfire and explosions at the sprawling complex.

Hundreds of guests and employees rushed out of one of the hotels after a masked gunman on the second floor began firing at guests, hotel employees fleeing the scene told CNN Philippines.

Heavily-armed SWAT officers wearing bulletproof vests and body armor descended on the scene, Camille Abadicio of CNN Philippines said. Video showed smoke coming from the upper floors of buildings.

Around 4 a.m. Friday, Resorts Chief Operating Officer Stephen Reilly told reporters police were looking inside the buildings for one suspect. He gave no other details.

Jay Dones, a witness on the scene, said the incident started around midnight Thursday (noon ET) and that some employees said the gunmen fired shots in the air.

“I spoke with some of the employees earlier and many of them say they saw at least two, two suspects, armed with long firearms wearing all black.” Dones said. “One of them was carrying a bottle. One of the employees told me that the suspect began pouring the contents of the bottle on one of the tables and lit it on fire.”

Tikos Low said he was in the resort’s casino, along with a few hundred other people, when the attack began. Low said he heard what sounded like an explosion.

“I could smell some kind of smoke that came from an explosive device,” he said.

Several hours later, witnesses on the scene said the shooting had stopped. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack.

It was not immediately clear how many people may have been injured or killed in the attack.

The Philippines Red Cross tweeted that it had transported three people from the resort to hospitals.

Dones said emergency personnel said they had treated people for smoke inhalation and bruises, but not for gunshot wounds.

All terminals at Ninoy Aquino International Airport were placed on lockdown because of the attack, according to Robert Echano with airport operations. The airport is about a mile away from the resort.

Reilly confirmed shots were fired, but did not give details on how many gunmen might be inside.

“We are still investigating the situation,” Reilly said in a statement. “We are searching the area as much as we can to make sure the building is clear.”

In Quezon City, one of the municipalities in metro Manila, Police District Director Guillermo Eleazar ordered all 12 police stations in the city to set up checkpoints and to maximize police visibility. All mobile patrol units and tactical motorized units of QCPD have been deployed to secure the city.

Eleazar also called on the public to remain calm and to refrain from spreading unverified information and to be vigilant at all times.

Resorts World Manila, also known as RWM, is a resort complex in Newport City, a residential and commercial center in metropolitan Manila.

The sprawling complex has an array of hotels, restaurants and bars. Tourists flock to the complex for its casino, cinema and stores, which include several Western retailers such as Hugo Boss, Lacoste and Kate Spade.

The complex, which is described on RWM’s website as “the first and largest integrated resort in the Philippines,” is across from Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Shortly after the incident began, the US State Department warned citizens to avoid the area.

The Philippines has been grappling with incidents of terrorism, especially on the southern island of Mindanao. There, in the city of Marawi, government forces have been battling ISIS-linked militants for control of the city.

The battle for Marawi, a largely Muslim city, has displaced at least 70,000 residents and left 140 people dead. The terrorist siege began last week, just as Muslims worldwide started to mark the holy month of Ramadan.

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law over the island of Mindanao in light of the crisis. Duterte also suggested he might extend martial law through year’s end or impose it nationwide, alarming critics.
At least 37 people are killed in a deliberately lit fire at Resorts World Manila in the Philippines. The perpetrator stole gaming chips and fired gun shots before committing suicide.