[Gulf Today] Two motorcycle-riding men threw a grenade into a crowd attending the Christmas Eve mass in a Catholic church in North Cotabato province, injuring at least 16 people including a policeman and a three-year-old girl.Police chief Bernardo Tayong said most of the injured victims were outside the church when the blast occurred on Saturday night in the town of Midsayap. He said one of those wounded was a policeman manning a patrol car deployed in front of the church to provide security for the worshipers attending the Christmas Eve mass. Tayong said a woman who bore the brunt was seriously hurt when the grenade exploded.
Reverend Jay Virador said, "The Holy Mass was abruptly ended, no more concluding prayers as there was a commotion. We are saddened because we are supposed to be spreading love and peace on Christmas Day."