At least four people died and dozens were injured in the attack that took place during Catholic mass celebrations in the south of the Philippines on Sunday, December 3. The explosion occurred in the gymnasium of Mindanao State University in Marawi, the country’s largest Muslim city. Perhaps an improvised explosive device or grenade explains officials, who reported that more than 40 injured people were taken to the hospital.
Photos released by local authorities showed overturned plastic chairs and debris surrounding a black stain on the floor of the gym where the service was held. The explosion occurred during the first Bible reading at the 7 a.m. service, 21-year-old student Chris Honculado said from his hospital bed.
Marawi Mayor Majul Gandamra called on members of the Muslim and Christian communities to unite. “Our city has long been a symbol of peaceful coexistence and harmony, and we will not allow such acts of violence to overshadow our collective commitment to peace and unity,” he said.
The attack followed a Philippine military airstrike that killed 11 Islamist militants from the Philippine organization Dawlah Islamiya in Mindanao on Friday, which military officials said had been carrying out attacks in the province. Militant attacks on buses, Catholic churches and public markets are characteristic of the unrest that has shaken the region for decades. In 2014, Manila signed a peace agreement with the country’s largest rebel group, the Moro National Liberation Front, ending the bloody armed rebellion. But small groups of Muslim rebels who oppose the peace deal remain, including militants who have pledged allegiance to ISIS. In May 2017, hundreds of gunmen took over Marawi City. The Philippine army has recaptured the city, which was left in ruins after a five-month war that claimed the lives of more than a thousand people.
Images show an explosion that destroyed the gymnasium of Mindanao State University in Marawi city during a Catholic mass.
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Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
