At least 27 killed in church explosion in Philippines
Two deadly explosions at a church on the southern Philippine island of Jolo have killed at least 27 people and injured more than 70. Philippine police have called the attack a terrorist attack. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Two bombs exploded at a church on the island of Jolo, killing and wounding dozens. The attacks are believed to have been in response to the results of a recent referendum.
The German news agency reported from Manila, the capital of the Philippines, that two bombs exploded in a church on the island of Jolo, located in the south of the country, on Sunday morning, January 27. A number of Christian citizens living on the island were praying in the church at the time of the explosion.
Philippine police initially reported that at least 21 people were killed and 71 injured, while more recent reports put the death toll in the two explosions at at least 27.
The first explosion occurred inside the church. According to Philippine police reports, following the explosion in the church, another explosion occurred in a parking lot located in front of the church. The second explosion occurred when Philippine law enforcement and security forces arrived at the scene of the explosion.
As of the time of publication of this report, there is no information about the motive of the perpetrators of the attack on the church. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. It should be noted that Jolo Island is located 1,000 kilometers from Manila, the capital of the Philippines.
Start of investigation
Philippine National Police Chief Oscar Albayalde has not ruled out the possibility of the death toll from the two blasts rising. He has announced that an investigation has been launched into the two blasts. To this end, an investigation and examination of the explosives used in the attacks have been launched.
In addition, it is said that a number of Philippine police and security forces were also killed in the explosion in the parking lot in front of the church. According to information released so far, seven police officers are among the victims of these attacks.
Philippine police have announced that they will impose greater control over churches and public centers to prevent a repeat of these attacks.
It is unclear whether the February 27 attacks on a church on the island of Jolo were related to Friday's referendum in the Mindanao region, which saw a majority vote in favor of creating an autonomous Muslim region. The decision to hold the referendum and declare a Muslim autonomous region in Mindanao was part of the government's 2014 agreement with the Moro rebels.
It is worth remembering that Muslims make up less than 10 percent of the population of the predominantly Christian Philippines, a religious minority that has repeatedly accused the Philippine government of discrimination against them.
Source: DW
