A bomb blast at a Catholic Mass on Sunday 3 December killed four people and injured over 50 others at the Mindanao State University in Marawi City, Philippines, Christian Post reports.
Governor Mamintal Adiong Jr of Lanao del Sur province said more that 40 of the injured were receiving treatment at a local government hospital while those with minor injuries being treated at the university’s infirmary.
Pictures on social media show the aftermath inside the gymnasium with scattered chairs and debris but no major damages to the building.
There are speculations that a grenade or an improvised bomb caused the explosion.
SITE Intelligence group, which monitors extremist group activities said ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it targeted a “large gathering of Christian disbelievers” in Marawi, a city dominated by Muslims.
The attack coincided with the commencement of Advent, a period leading to Christmas when mass attendance increases.
Authorities of the Mindanao State University expressed horror at the attack, saying such acts do not have a place in civilised society, particularly in educational institutions. The university has suspended academic activities and increased security measures on campus.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has condemned the attack, describing it as “senseless and most heinous.” He attributed it to “foreign terrorists.”
The president, however, assured the nation that additional security had been deployed to respond to the incident.
The United States through the State Department Spokesperson, Matthew Miller, condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with the Philippines. It reaffirmed its commitment to standing against such acts of violence.
Allan Nobleza, a brigadier general and regional police commander, suggested the Daulah Islamiyah-Maute Group may be behind the attack. The speculation follows the death of 11 members of the group including its leader in Lanao del Sur in an encounter with the Philippine Army recently.
Romeo Brawner, armed forces chief, also suggested it might be a retaliatory act.
President Marcos and Defence Secretary, Gilberto Teodore, said the perpetrators would be fished out and punished.
Meanwhile, security apprehension has increased in the nation’s capital, Manila and the southern region following the incident. There is now increased police presence and Coast Guard inspections at ports.
Furthermore, it has raised concerns about safety of religious gathering in the region, especially as Philippines near a period of increasing religious activity.