At least four people have lost their lives and another 42 were injured by an explosion that occurred during a Catholic mass in Marawi, Philippines.
The explosion, whose responsibility is unknown, occurred around 7:00 a.m. It happened in a gymnasium at the University of Mindanao where a religious event was being held with dozens of people.
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Many of those attending were university students, said investigative police officer Aliasgar Binaning. This when he pointed out that the authorities began an operation to determine who is behind the attack, reports the Rappler news portal.
For his part, Mamintal Adiong, governor of Lanao del Sur, whose capital is Marawi, described the incident as a terrorist bomb attack.
“In my province we defend basic human rights, and that includes the right to religion. Terrorist attacks on educational institutions must also be condemned because they are places that promote the culture of peace and mold our young people to be the future trainers of this country,” Adiong said in a statement posted on Facebook before visiting a hospital where they treat to the wounded.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is validating information that Islamic State (IS) is responsible for the explosion at a gymnasium inside the Mindanao State University (MSU) in Marawi City which claimed the lives of four people.https://t.co/D33uqPwofc
— Manila Bulletin News (@manilabulletin) December 4, 2023
The spokesperson for the regional government of Lanao del Sur, Jenny Tamano, updated the number of victims to four dead and 42 injured, reported the aforementioned media.
In 2017, Marawi was the scene of a bloody confrontation as a result of jihadist groups related to the Islamic State (IS).
For five months, the Philippine Army fought street by street with the extremists until they managed to liberate the city. This in a battle where more than 1,200 people died – 978 jihadists, 168 soldiers and 87 civilians.
With nearly 20 percent of the Muslim population, the southern island of Mindanao has been the scene of conflicts between the Government and various extremist groups for decades, including the jihadist organization Abu Sayaf and the Maute Group, both affiliated with IS.
The explosion in Marawi occurred two days after 11 suspected members of the Dawlah Islamiyah terrorist group and its leader were killed in military operations in a mountainous area of Maguindanao del Sur province in southwestern Mindanao.
