The self-proclaimed Islamic State has claimed responsibility for a massacre at a Catholic Mass inside a university gym.
At least four people were killed and 50 others injured when a huge explosion tore through the building in the predominantly Muslim city of Marawi, in the south of the Philippines, which was besieged by Islamist militants for five months in 2017.
Panic erupted among students and teachers in the congregation at the Mindanao State University.
Footage showed bloodied victims being carried to ambulances as smoke engulfed the building.
Dozens of people were seen running outside of the gym, while others helped the wounded.
Photos posted on the Lanao del Sur government’s Facebook page showed several overturned plastic chairs and debris around a black patch on the floor.
Six of the victims are now fighting for their lives in hospital, said Mamintal Adiong Jr, the governor of the Islamic province of Lanao del Sur, which has Marawi as its capital.
Fragments of a 16-mm mortar were recovered, but police are still investigating if it was an improvised explosive device or a grenade.
Initially, there was no clear indication who was behind the ‘horrendous’ attack, but officials were quick to describe it as ‘an act of terrorism’.
Earlier on Sunday, IS released a statement on Telegram, claiming responsibility for the explosion, saying that it had detonated a bomb.
One thing is for sure, it set off a security alarm beyond Marawi as the Christmas season ushered in a period of travel, shopping sprees and traffic jams across the country.
The Philippine coast guard said it has ordered personnel to intensify intelligence-gathering, stricter inspections of passenger ferries and the deployment of bomb-sniffing dogs and sea marshals following the suspected bomb attack.
Filipino Muslims perform a prayer as they gather in solidarity with the victims (Picture: EPA)
‘Amid this barbaric act, best public service must prevail,’ coast guard chief Admiral Ronnie Gavan said in a statement.
Presidential adviser Carlito Galvez, former military chief of staff who now oversees government efforts to end Muslim and communist insurgencies, condemned what he called a bombing incident.
‘This horrendous attack … shows the ruthless methods that these lawless elements will utilise to sow fear, anger and animosity among our people,’ he said.
‘We will not allow this to happen.’
The attack followed military operations against local pro-IS groups, including the killing of a leader of the Dawlah Islamiya-Maute group in Lanao del Sur on the same Sunday.
It was suggested this was a retaliatory attack, considering the recent military operations against extremist groups.
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