During a Catholic mass at Mindanao State University in Marawi City, Philippines, a bomb explosion on Sunday morning, December 3, 2023, led to the death of four individuals and injuries to 50.
The explosion took place in the university’s gymnasium, leading to a state of panic among the attendees, with many injured people found on the ground.
Major General Gabriel Viray III, the area’s military commander, verified the death toll, stating that the victims included at least three women. The injured were transported to two hospitals, predominantly for minor injuries.
The university’s security head, Taha Mandangan, identified the bombing as a deliberate act of terrorism.
The mass, being held at the start of Advent, a significant period before Christmas in the Catholic Church, drew a larger crowd than usual.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. strongly condemned the explosion, labeling it as a brutal and unnecessary act and suggesting foreign terrorist involvement.
This perspective was supported by Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and General Romeo Brawner Jr., the military Chief of Staff, who both suggested foreign participation in the bombing.
General Brawner hypothesized that the explosion might be in retaliation for recent military actions against Dawlah Islamiyah, a group linked with the Islamic State.
Marawi City, located in the Muslim-majority Lanao del Sur province, has a history of conflicts involving Islamic militants, including a significant siege in 2017 by Islamic State-associated militants, which resulted in over 1,000 fatalities. Despite peace agreements with major separatist groups, smaller factions have continued to conduct violent attacks.
Following the incident, security measures across the Philippines have been escalated, particularly in Manila. These measures include intensified intelligence efforts, stricter inspections, and the deployment of bomb-sniffing dogs and sea marshals.
Carlito Galvez, a presidential advisor and former military chief, condemned the attack, pledging no tolerance for such violence.
Brigadier General Allan Nobleza, the regional police director, also mentioned the possible link between this bombing and the recent deaths of 11 suspected Islamic militants in a military operation in Maguindanao province, southern Philippines.
As reported by Al Jazeera, ISIL (ISIS) claimed responsibility for the bombing.