Islamic State claims responsibility for Mass bombing in Marawi

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<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Scene at the Mindanao State University gymnasium following a blast on Dec. 3, 2023. At least 4 people were confirmed dead after the blast according to Police BGen Allan Nobleza, regional director of Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. PCol. Jean Fajardo, Philippine National Police PIO, handout " src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/news/12/04/20231203-marawi-blast-pnp8.jpg"/><figcaption>Scene at the Mindanao State University gymnasium following a blast on Dec. 3, 2023. At least 4 people were confirmed dead after the blast according to Police BGen Allan Nobleza, regional director of Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.<em> PCol. Jean Fajardo, Philippine National Police PIO, handout </em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA — The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for an attack on a Catholic mass in Marawi on Sunday, which killed at least four people and injured 50 others.</p><p>The blast happened during a morning service at Mindanao State University&#x27;s gymnasium in Marawi, the country&#x27;s largest Muslim city, which was besieged by militant groups in 2017. </p><p>The Islamic State group said in a statement on its Telegram channels that &quot;soldiers of the caliphate detonated an explosive device on a large gathering of Christians... in the city of Marawi.&quot;</p><p>Security officials had earlier said the blast from an <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_Dkysj0a88&amp;pp=ygUOYWJzIGNibiBtYXJhd2k%3D">improvised explosive device</a> might have been a retaliatory attack for a series of military operations against Islamist militant groups in recent days.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2891451" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div><p>Investigators are “still gathering information” on the Islamic State claim, said Bangsamoro police public information officer PLt. Eirene Mazon. </p><p>&quot;We are accepting all the possibilities. As of now, mayroon tayong persons of interest at mayroon tayong tinitingnang angles kung ano po ba ang dahilan ng insidenteng ito,&quot; she told TeleRadyo Serbisyo. </p><p>Photos posted on the Lanao del Sur provincial government&#x27;s Facebook page showed several overturned plastic chairs, shattered glass and debris around a black patch on the floor of the gymnasium.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bbS4EHP4QeY?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div><p>University student Chris Jurado, 21, told AFP from his hospital bed that the explosion happened during the first Bible reading of the morning mass at 7:00 a.m. </p><p>&quot;It was really sudden and everyone ran,&quot; Jurado said.</p><p>&quot;When I looked behind me people were lying on the floor. We didn&#x27;t know what happened because everything happened so fast.&quot;</p><p>Rowena Mae Fernandez, 19, said she did not know what the blast was at first -- then others started running.</p><p>&quot;My companion and I also ran, even though we fell on the ground at one point. That was the only thing I remembered until I got out of the gym and I fell again,&quot; she said from hospital.</p><p>&quot;My friends were crying because they saw my injury.&quot;</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XAcgkrAVk94?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div><p>President Ferdinand <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/03/23/marcos-condemns-marawi-blast-calls-for-calm-as-probe-starts">Marcos Jr</a>. has condemned the attack by &quot;foreign terrorists&quot;, describing it as &quot;senseless&quot; and &quot;heinous&quot;, while <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/03/23/pope-francis-sends-assurance-to-victims-of-marawi-blast">Pope Francis</a> offered his prayers for the victims.</p><p>&quot;I am close to the families, to the people of Mindanao, who have already suffered so much,&quot; the pontiff said from his residence in remarks broadcast in Saint Peter&#x27;s Square.</p><p>Mindanao State University issued a statement condemning &quot;the act of violence&quot; as it suspended classes and deployed more security personnel on the campus.</p><p>&quot;We stand in solidarity with our Christian community and all those affected by this tragedy,&quot; the university said.</p><p>Marawi city Mayor Majul Gandamra urged members of the Muslim and Christian communities to remain united.</p><p>&quot;Our city has long been a beacon of peaceful coexistence and harmony, and we will not allow such acts of violence to overshadow our collective commitment to peace and unity,&quot; Gandamra said in a statement condemning the attack.</p><div><strong>&#x27;COWARDLY ACTS&#x27;</strong></div><p>Before Islamic State claimed the attack, military chief General Romeo Brawner said the bombing may have been a revenge attack for government operations against three Islamist militant groups -- Dawlah Islamiyah-Philippines, Abu Sayyaf and Maute -- in western Mindanao in recent days.</p><p>&quot;That is one angle we are looking into,&quot; Brawner told a news conference.</p><p>&quot;Based on the evidence that we gathered there is a big percentage that points to the Maute-ISIS.&quot;</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/03/23/foreign-terrorist-involvement-eyed-in-marawi-blast">Foreign terrorist involvement eyed in Marawi blast</a></li></ul><p>Pro-Islamic State Maute and Abu Sayyaf militants -- including foreign and local fighters -- held Marawi under siege in 2017.</p><p>The Philippine military wrested back the ruined city after a five-month battle that claimed more than 1,000 lives.</p><p>&quot;There are strong indications of a foreign element (in Sunday&#x27;s attack),&quot; Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro told reporters.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/i1ho9d-_-Vc?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div><p>Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao del Sur are part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.</p><p>The country&#x27;s Muslim minority were given self-rule in Bangsamoro under former president Rodrigo Duterte as part of efforts to head off the lure of violent extremism.</p><p>Bangsamoro Government Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim said he &quot;condemned the atrocious and cowardly acts&quot; and called for a &quot;thorough investigation&quot;.</p><p>Militant attacks on buses, Catholic churches and public markets have been a feature of decades-long unrest in the region.</p><p>Manila signed a peace pact with the nation&#x27;s largest rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, in 2014, ending their deadly armed rebellion.</p><p>But smaller bands of Muslim fighters opposed to the peace deal remain, including militants professing allegiance to the Islamic State group. Communist rebels also operate in the region.</p><div><strong>— Report from Merlyn Manos and Cecil Morella, Agence France-Presse </strong></div>

The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for an attack on a Catholic mass in Marawi on Sunday. 

Islamic State claims responsibility for Mass bombing in Marawi | ABS-CBN

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Islamic State claims responsibility for Mass bombing in Marawi

Islamic State claims responsibility for Mass bombing in Marawi

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 04, 2023 09:43 AM PHT

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Updated Dec 04, 2023 11:01 AM PHT

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