On Sunday, terrorists affiliated with the Islamic State claimed responsibility for a blast that occurred during a Catholic Mass in the Philippines. The attack resulted in the deaths of at least four people and injuries to fifty more.

An assault was carried out at the gymnasium of a university in Marawi, which is located in the southern region of the Philippines and was under siege by Islamist militants for five months in 2017.

The Islamic State organization, which is influential in the southern region of the nation, announced on Telegram that its militants were responsible for the explosion of the device. The President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., issued a statement condemning “the senseless and most heinous acts perpetrated by foreign terrorists” earlier and earlier on Sunday before the Islamic State made its claim. The military and police increased security in the nation’s southern region and around Manila, the capital.

During his address on Sunday in Rome, Pope Francis offered prayers for the victims. In a separate written message, he also pleaded with “Christ the prince of peace” to allow all people the fortitude to turn away from violence and to triumph over every evil with good.

During a news conference, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro stated that law enforcement efforts will “continue unabated” to bring those responsible for the “terrorist activity” to justice.

Teodoro stated that there were “strong indications of a foreign element” in the attack. Still, he declined to elaborate on this statement to avoid jeopardizing the investigation that is now underway.

During the news conference, senior police officer Emmanuel Peralta stated that fragments of a mortar measuring 60 millimeters were found at the scene for investigation.

According to the military leader, the explosion that occurred in Marawi, which is the capital of the province of Lanao del Sur, was the result of a series of military operations that were conducted against local pro-Islamic State forces in the southern Philippines.

A leader of the Dawlah Islamiya-Maute organization was killed as a result of an incident that occurred on Sunday in the province of Lanao del Sur. “It is possible that what happened this morning was a retaliatory attack,” Romeo Brawner, the Armed Forces Chief, stated during the news conference.

Maute, a group with ties to the Islamic State, seized control of Marawi in May 2017 to establish a “wilayat,” or governorate, for the Islamic State in Southeast Asia.

The subsequent conflict lasted for five months, during which time Islamist fighters and Philippine soldiers were responsible for the deaths of over a thousand individuals, including civilians.

The Lanao del Sur government posted pictures of military personnel inspecting the gym at Mindanao State University and the explosion scene. The gym looked in good condition, except for burn scars in the middle.

Using plastic chairs, rescue workers were seen transporting injured individuals out of the gym in videos uploaded by DZBB radio to the social networking site X, formerly known as Twitter.

According to a statement by a police officer named Peralta, to “prevent possible follow-up incidents,” police checkpoints were tightened, and police offices throughout Mindanao and the capital region were placed on high alert.

The Coast Guard ordered increased pre-departure inspections at ports in its various districts.

In a message on Facebook, Mindanao State University expressed its “deeply saddened and appalled” response to the act of violence that took place during a religious gathering. “We unequivocally condemn, in the strongest possible terms, this senseless and horrific act.” It was announced by the institution that courses would be halted until further advance notice.