19 dead in Philippines serial explosion
A serial explosion occurred on the morning of the 27th outside the main church in Sulu Province, southwestern Philippines. Philippine National Police Chief Oscar Albayade said that the two explosions were only one minute apart, and at least 19 people have been killed and 48 injured.
Philippine military's Western Mindanao Command spokesman Gerry Besana said that at about 8:15 that day, two explosions occurred in the external battery of the main church in Jolo City, the capital of Sulu Province. Since it was a Sunday, many local residents who had just finished Mass gathered inside and outside the church.
According to Philippine media reports, the military has blocked the explosion site and the injured have been taken to a nearby hospital. There is no organization or individual claiming to have caused the explosion that day.
Sulu Province is a place where local terrorist organizations such as the Abu Sayyaf armed forces frequently operate, and incidents such as kidnappings and bombings have occurred frequently. At the end of 2018, the Philippine military announced the formation of a new army division in Sulu Province to specialize in combating local terrorist organizations.