Islamic terror gang Abu Sayyaf has claimed responsibility for an explosion and fire aboard a ferry in the Philippines: Abu Sayyaf Claims Philippines Ferry Fire.

The Radio Mindanao Network said Abu Sayyaf spokesman Abu Sulaiman claimed Friday’s explosion was revenge for government attacks in the southern Mindanao area. Abu Sayyaf has often called the radio network in the past.

Fire raced through the Superferry 14 on Friday shortly after it left Manila for central and southern islands, killing one person and injuring 12 others. Witnesses reported a powerful explosion that sparked an inferno.

The fire occurred the same day that two alleged Abu Sayyaf members were convicted of kidnapping an American in 2000 and another was arraigned in a separate mass abduction.

Radio Mindanao did not air the claim, but reporter Benji Alejandro said he first received a claim of responsibility via a mobile phone text message Friday morning and asked the sender to call to verify the allegation. Joel Sanson, the network’s program director, said he also had been called and recognized Sulaiman’s voice.

Sanson quoted Sulaiman as saying: “They have been warned before but they never listened.”