[UCA News] A bomb blast shook a Catholic church in the southern Philippines on April 29, a day after Southeast Asian leaders were warned of a real threat of terror attacks in the region. Philippine officials blamed the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, which have claimed allegiance to the Islamic State, for the blast that wounded two people in the city of Koronadal.Another bomb was later found outside a convenience store in the city, three blocks from the St. Anthony Parish cathedral where the first blast occurred. Central Mindanao police chief Marcelo Morales said, "This is a diversionary tactic [of the terrorists] because of a series of arrests we made and military operations against lawless groups."
The blast happened after Sunday Masses while baptism ceremonies were taking place inside the church. Police sources said the bomb "bore the signature of an Islamic extremist group."
The day before, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore warned Southeast Asian leaders that the region is facing "very real" threats from terror and cyber-attacks. Lee said, "We need to be resilient to both conventional threats, and also non-conventional threats such as terrorism and cyberattacks."
Indonesian terrorism expert, Ansyaad Mbai, said the threat of cyber-attacks is a reality in Indonesia with a network known as Saracen allegedly behind the spread of hate speech. Mbai, former head Indonesia's National Counterterrorism Agency, said the group intends to sow division ahead of upcoming elections.