(Pic: BBC)

Flung to the ground by the huge explosion, Captain Luke Sinnott’s first thought was for his squad.

The 31-year-old recalls: “I thought, ‘F***, that was close!’ I shouted out: ‘Right. Anyone hurt?’ Then I looked down and realised it was me.”

Luke was in Afghanistan in charge of a team of searchers - soldiers who locate improvised explosive devices planted by the Taliban - when he took the full force of an IED blast just 100 metres from base camp Rahim in Helmand Province.

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Two explosions greeted Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse Robredo yesterday in Cotobato City.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Directorate for Integrated Police Operation (DIPO) Western Mindanao director Chief Supt. Felicisimo Khu said the first explosion occurred at around 12:10 p.m. followed by another blast at around 12:15 p.m.

Khu said unidentified suspects planted the improvised explosive devices (IED) 20 meters apart beside the road near Cotobato City Regional Hospital. He said the IEDs exploded almost simultaneously.

It was learned that the explosion occurred shortly after the convoy of Robredo passed by in the area. Robredo was scheduled to attend a forum for the elected officer in charge of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Khu said the DILG convoy was already inside the compound when the explosion occurred.

Cotobato City police director Senior Supt. Roberto Badian said Robredo was not the target of the explosion.

Police are conducting follow-up investigation into the incident.