Twin explosions kill 20 people at Philippines cathedral
Source: Associated Press
Twenty people were killed and 81 injured when two bombs exploded outside a Roman Catholic cathedral on a southern Philippine island where Muslim militants are active security officials have said.
The country’s national police chief said the first bomb went off in or near Jolo cathedral during a mass on Sunday, followed by a second blast outside the compound as government forces were responding to the attack. Oscar Albayalde said the dead included troops and civilians.
A spokesman for the Philippines’ president, Rodrigo Duterte, vowed the country’s military would hunt down the attackers. “The enemies of the state have boldly challenged the capability of the government to secure the safety of the citizenry in that region,” said Salvador Panelo. “The armed forces of the Philippines will rise to the challenge and crush these godless criminals.”
There was no immediate claim of responsibility but police suspect the bombings were carried out by Abu Sayyaf, a militant group that has pledged allegiance to Islamic State and is notorious for its bombings and brutality.
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Associated Press
Sun 27 Jan 2019 09.45 GMT
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/27/two-bombs-explode-at-philippines-cathedral-killing-people
The bomb attack devastated the church in Jolo (AFP/Getty Images)
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