At least 11 people were killed, and dozens more injured in an explosion that occurred during Catholic mass in a university gymnasium in the Philippines on Sunday, according to local authorities.
The blast happened at around 7 a.m. local time at the Mindanao State University (MSU) in Marawi City just after the first Bible reading during a Catholic mass on the first Sunday of Advent—which signifies the four-week period before Christmas—on Dec. 3.
Police are investigating the cause of the explosion. Brigadier General Allan Nobleza, the regional police director, said police are exploring the possibility of it being an act of revenge by pro-ISIS terrorists.
The blast happened just a day after the Philippine military announced that it had killed 11 suspected members of a local ISIS-inspired Islamist terrorist group during military operations in Maguindanao del Sur province.
The emir of Dawlah Islamiyah (also Daulah Islamiyah), Abdullah Sapal, was among those killed. Dawlah Islamiyah means ISIS in the local language.
‘Terroristic’ Bombing Attack
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.“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.
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.
Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. condemned the terror attack in a statement, blaming foreign actors. The foreign ministry said that a foreign terrorist group was involved in the university bombing, but did not identified the group.
“I condemn in the strongest possible terms the senseless and most heinous acts perpetrated by foreign terrorists upon the Mindanao State University (MSU) and Marawi communities early this Sunday morning. Extremists who wield violence against the innocent will always be regarded as enemies to our society,” he said.
“We mourn those killed in the attack, and our thoughts are with the injured. The United States is in close contact with our Philippine partners and stands with the people of the Philippines in rejecting this act of violence,” it said.
ISIS later on Dec. 3 claimed responsibility for the attack, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, an American counterterrorism consultancy. The terrorist group also commented on the attack in a Telegram post.
The mosque-studded city first came under attack by Islamic extremists aligned with the ISIS group in 2017, leaving more than 1,100 dead, mostly from among the aggressing extremists, before the five-month siege was quelled by Filipino forces backed by airstrikes and surveillance planes deployed by the United States and Australia.
The southern Philippines is the homeland of minority Muslims in the predominantly Roman Catholic nation and the scene of decades-old separatist rebellion.
The largest armed insurgent group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, signed a 2014 peace deal with the government, considerably easing decades of fighting. But a number of smaller armed groups rejected the peace pact and press on with bombings and other attacks while evading government offensives.
