Hundreds injured in religious procession

MANILA, Philippines, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- Hundreds of people surging to get close to a wooden sculpture were injured Monday during a huge Roman Catholic procession in the Philippines, authorities said.

Marchers, estimated to be in the millions, had ignored terrorist-attack warnings to participate in the annual Feast of the Black Nazarene procession in Manila, ABS-CBN reported.

Procession volunteers said they treated at least 324 injured people who tried to get near a sacred black wooden sculpture called the Black Nazarene, the report said. Other agencies reported a lower injury toll.

The ABS-CBN report said news footage showed a steel railing falling at the Quirino grandstand after a mass led by Manila's new Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle.

The report said up to 8 million people from across the country had been expected to take part in the annual event commemorating the transfer of the sacred image from the Recollect Church to the Quiapo Church in 1787.

Philippines President Benigno Aquino had earlier warned terrorists could carry out an attack during the procession and National Security Adviser Cesar Garcia said the terror threat could not be taken lightly, the report said.

"I call on our fellow citizens to exercise the maximum vigilance and discipline leading up to, and during, the procession," Aquino was quoted as saying Sunday.