The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for a bombing that targeted a Catholic mass on Sunday, which left at least four dead and dozens wounded at the Mindanao State University.
In a statement, ISIS said that “soldiers of the Caliphate detonated an explosive deceive on a large gathering of infidel Christians in the city of Malawi while they were performing polytheistic rituals, killing a number of Christians and wounding dozens…”
#Philippines l’#EI revendique l’attentat à la bombe de #Marawi contre la communauté chrétienne pic.twitter.com/EX6JRiUXBQ
— Wassim Nasr (@SimNasr) December 3, 2023
Bangsamoro regional police director Allan Nobleza told DZBB that police and military EOD units have yet to determine the exact type of explosive device used, with the Philippine Star reporting that it could have been a remotely detonated device.
[Trigger Warning: sensitive content]
LOOK: A bomb ripped through the Dimaporo Gym inside the Mindanao State University (MSU) campus in Marawi City early Sunday, Dec. 3, amid a Catholic Holy Mass attended mainly by students. | ?: Contributed via Paul Lauro, @cebudailynews
Read… pic.twitter.com/UsjLUXgr2x
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) December 3, 2023
Likewise, Nobleza stated that authorities are investigating whether the attack was potentially motivated by a recent military operation against the ISIS-aligned Dawlah Islamiyah, which left nearly a dozen militants, including its leader, dead on Friday in Mindanao. Dawlah Islamiyah took part in the 2017 siege and takeover of Marawi, which was ultimately liberated by the Philippine military after months of fighting.
