A bomb attack on a Catholic mass in the crises-ravaged southern Philippines has left at least three persons dead with seven others injured on Sunday 03 December 2023.
Confirming the incident, Regional Police Chief Allan Nobleza revealed that the blast occured during regular service at Mindanao State University’s gymnasium in Marawi, the country’s biggest Muslim region.
He said investigations were ongoing to ascertain if the explosive device used was an IED or grenade throwing.
Meanwhile the Mindanao State University has issued a statement condemning the act of violence. Authorities of the university have also suspended classes and deployed more security operatives on ensure the safety of students and properties.
The statement reads in parts; “we stand in solidarity with our Christian community and all those affected by this tragedy”.
The attack coming barely two days after the Philippines military launched an airstrike on Friday that killed 11 Islamists terrorists from the Dawlah Islamiyah- Philippines organization in Mindanao.
According the military the group had been plotting to mount attacks in Maguindanao del Sur province.
The militant attacks on Catholic churches, buses, markets have been caused an age long unrest in the region.
Reports have that Manila signed a peace pact with the nation’s largest rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, in 2014, ending their deadly armed rebellion.
However, smaller groups of Muslim fighters stood against the peace deal remain, including militants professing allegiance to the Islamic State group. Also, Communist rebels operate in the region.
Hundreds of pro-IS foreign and local gunmen seized Marawi in May 2017.
