According to local police, an explosion happened during Catholic mass in a university gymnasium in the Philippines on Sunday, killing at least four people and injuring scores more.
The explosion occurred about 7 a.m. On December 3, a Catholic service was held at Mindanao State University (MSU) in Marawi City for the first Sunday of Advent, which marks the four-week period before Christmas.
The number of those injured has grown to 42, according to Jenny Tamano, a spokesman for the Lanao del Sur regional administration. According to local media Rappler, authorities first reported three dead and nine injuries.
The cause of the explosion is being investigated by police. The area police head, Brigadier General Allan Nobleza, stated that authorities are investigating the likelihood that it was an act of vengeance by pro-ISIS militants.
The explosion occurred barely one day after the Philippine military claimed that 11 suspected members of a local ISIS-inspired Islamist terrorist cell had been killed during military operations in Maguindanao del Sur province.
According to Mr. Nobleza, the killed terrorists belonged to Dawlah Islamiyah, which still maintains a presence in Lanao del Sur province, which includes Marawi City.
Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Adiong Jr. has strongly condemned the “bombing” attack, labeling it an act of terrorism. He pledged that justice would be pursued and served in response to this incident.
“Here in my province, we uphold basic human rights, and that includes the right to religion,” he said in a statement on Facebook.
“Terroristic attacks on educational institutions must also be condemned because these are places that promote the culture of peace and mold our youth to be the future shapers of this country.
“I urge the security sector to get to the bottom of this IMMEDIATELY!” the governor added.
MSU said it was “deeply saddened and appalled by the act of violence” that occurred during a religious gathering at its gymnasium. The university pledged to provide support to those affected by the tragedy.
“We unequivocally condemn in the strongest possible terms this senseless and horrific act and extend our heartfelt condolences to the victims and their families,” the university said in a statement.
MSU said that it was suspending classes and all academic activities until further notice and increased the number of security personnel to safeguard the campus.
The university administration is working closely with the local government units and law enforcement authorities to investigate the attack, it added.
“Our immediate priority is to ensure the safety and well-being of all constituents, particularly our Christian community,” MSU stated.
“We are aware of the heightened sensitivities and concerns that arise from such a tragic event, and we want to assure everyone that we are taking every measure possible to protect our students, faculty, and staff.
“We stand in solidarity with our Christian community and all those affected by this tragedy,” it added.
The mosque-studded city was first attacked by Islamic extremists aligned with the ISIS group in 2017, killing over 1,100 people, the majority of whom were aggressive extremists, before a five-month siege was ended by Filipino forces backed by airstrikes and surveillance planes deployed by the US and Australia.
The southern Philippines is the home of the minority Muslim population in the mostly Roman Catholic country, as well as the site of a decades-long separatist insurgency.
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the main armed insurgency organization, struck a peace agreement with the government in 2014, significantly alleviating decades of warfare. However, a handful of smaller armed groups rejected the peace treaty and continued to carry out bombs and other assaults while escaping government offensives.
