COTABATO, Philippines : A blast ripped through a police car outside a Catholic church in the southern Philippines late Saturday, authorities said, wounding 13 people including a police officer. The explosion hit churchgoers attending a series of Christmas Eve masses at the Archdiocesan Shrine of Santo Nino in the farming town of Midsayap, a priest who present at the service said.
"The communion was ongoing when the explosion took place," Father Jay Virador told reporters.
The blast occurred about 30 metres (98 feet) away from the church's entrance and caused panic, he added.
The regional police spokesman, Superintendent Romeo Galgo, confirmed the blast which he said was caused by an unspecified explosive device.
Thirteen people were wounded by the explosion and treated at nearby hospitals, including a police officer and an unidentified person, according to an updated police tally.
Authorities did not immediately say who was responsible for the blast. No group has claimed responsibility.
A police investigator who asked not to be named told AFP it appeared the suspects had initially targeted the church but later settled for a patrol car assigned to guard the building instead.
"It seems they wanted to get closer but due to heavy security they opted to throw the explosive at the police car blocking the road," the officer added.
The explosion damaged the police car and a pickup truck parked nearby, police said.
The town, about 900 kilometres (559 miles) south of Manila, is located in the middle of the large Philippine island of Mindanao, home to a Muslim minority and decades of armed rebellion.
However the main Muslim guerrilla group in the area has signed a ceasefire with the Philippine government.
Government forces continue to fight smaller Muslim armed groups on the island, some of whom have pledged allegiance to Islamic State fighters in Iraq and Syria and have been blamed for bombing civilian targets in the past.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
"The communion was ongoing when the explosion took place," Father Jay Virador told reporters.
The blast occurred about 30 metres (98 feet) away from the church's entrance and caused panic, he added.
Thirteen people were wounded by the explosion and treated at nearby hospitals, including a police officer and an unidentified person, according to an updated police tally.
Advertisement
A police investigator who asked not to be named told AFP it appeared the suspects had initially targeted the church but later settled for a patrol car assigned to guard the building instead.
Advertisement
The explosion damaged the police car and a pickup truck parked nearby, police said.
Advertisement
However the main Muslim guerrilla group in the area has signed a ceasefire with the Philippine government.
Advertisement
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
COMMENTS
Advertisement
21 Dead, 71 Injured As Bombs Hit Church In Philippines "Relocate To Vizag": Andhra Minister To IT Firms Amid Karnataka Quota Row UP BJP Rejig Soon? State Chief Offers To Quit Over Poll Drubbing: Sources "I Divorce You... Your Ex-Wife": Dubai Princess Dumps Husband In Insta Post "Animal Cruelty": Abu Dhabi's First Owl Cafe Goes Viral, Internet Angry Madras High Court's Big Rebuke To Probe Agency In Illegal Sand Mining Row 12 Maoists Killed In 6-Hour Encounter In Maharashtra's Gadchiroli Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.