Marawi City, Philippines — The ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and Levant) group has claimed responsibility for a bombing during a Catholic mass service in the southern Philippines, resulting in the death of at least four people and leaving dozens injured.
The attack unfolded on sunday at a university gymnasium in Marawi, a city that witnessed a five-month siege by Islamist militants in 2017. The prolonged conflict between ISIL and government forces led to mass evacuations, with over a thousand casualties by then.
In a statement on Telegram, the Islamic State group, with a significant presence in the country's south, asserted that its members executed the bombing. "The soldiers of the caliphate detonated an explosive device on a large gathering of Christians in the city of Marawi," read the ISIL statement.
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Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. strongly condemned the attack, labeling it as "senseless and most heinous acts perpetrated by foreign terrorists." Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, at a press conference, hinted at "strong indications of a foreign element" in the incident.
Police announced on Monday that they are investigating at least two individuals of interest in connection with the bombing.
About ISIL:
In the aftermath of the 2003 US occupation of Iraq, the Middle East experienced a period marked by conflict, heightened sectarian tensions, and turbulent regime changes. The region's landscape, characterised by the frailty of Arab states in revolt or engaged in warfare, provided fertile ground for the emergence and growth of extremist groups, with ISIL (Islamic State of Syria and Levant) standing as a prominent example.
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ISIL's roots trace back to 2011 when it gained prominence as the Islamic State in Iraq (ISI). During this time, the group actively participated in the rebellion against President Bashar al-Assad in Syria, finding a secure haven amidst the chaos. Simultaneously, it capitalised on the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq and tapped into Sunni discontent with the sectarian policies of the Shia-led government.
The United Nations has officially recognised ISIS as a terrorist organisation.
