Three Killed In Philippines Catholic Mass Bomb Attack
Afimag.com –
No fewer than three people have been killed, and seven others sustaining various degree of injuries in a bomb attack on a Catholic mass in Southern Philippines on December 03, 2023.
This was announced by Regional police Chief Allan Nobleza, who explained that the blast took place during the major mass at Mindanao State University’s gymnasium in Marawi, the country’s largest Muslim city.
Nobleza, while referring to an improvised explosive device, said “We’re investigating if it’s an IED or grenade throwing.”
Mindanao State University issued a statement condemning “the act of violence”, as it suspended classes and deployed more security personnel on the campus.
“We stand in solidarity with our Christian community and all those affected by this tragedy,” the university said in a statement.
Photos posted on the Lanao del` Sur provincial government’s Facebook page showed Governor Mamintal Adiong visiting “wounded victims of the bombing” at a medical facility.
It was gathered that the incident happened after the Philippine military launched an air strike on Friday, that killed 11 Islamist militants from the Dawlah Islamiyah-Philippines organisation in Mindanao.
According to the military sources on Saturday, the group had been planning to mount attacks in Maguindanao del Sur province.
Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao del Sur are part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Militant attacks on buses, Catholic churches and public markets have been a feature of decades-long unrest in the region.
Manila signed a peace pact with the nation’s largest rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, in 2014, ending their deadly armed rebellion.
But smaller bands of Muslim fighters opposed to the peace deal remain, including militants professing allegiance to the Islamic State group. Communist rebels also operate in the region.
It could be recalled that in May 2017, over hundreds of pro-IS foreign and local gunmen seized Marawi.
The Philippine military wrested back the ruined city after a five-month battle that claimed more than a thousand lives.
Nobleza, however, opined that the police were investigating whether Sunday’s attack was linked to Friday’s air strike.