At least four people killed and dozens wounded in Philippines bomb attack on Catholic mass 'by Islamist militants'

Four people have been killed and dozens wounded in a bomb attack at a Catholic mass in the Philippines. 

The blast happened during a regular service at Mindanao State University's gymnasium in Marawi, the country's largest Muslim city, with regional police Chief Allan Nobleza said.

Police Lieutenant General Emmanuel Peralta said more than 50 people were wounded and hospitalised by the attack, which is being blamed on 'foreign terrorists' by President Ferdinand Marcos.

Other security officials said the bombing may have been a retaliatory attack for a series of military operations against Islamist militant groups in recent days. 

Photos posted on the Lanao del Sur government's Facebook page showed several overturned plastic chairs and debris around a black patch on the floor of the gymnasium.

University student Chris Jurado, 21, told local media from his hospital bed that the explosion happened during the first Bible reading of the morning mass at 7.00am local time. 

He said: 'It was really sudden and everyone ran. 

'When I looked behind me people were lying on the floor. We didn't know what happened because everything happened so fast.'

Rowena Mae Fernandez, 19, said she did not know what the blast was at first - then others started running: 'My companion and I also ran, even though we fell on the ground at one point. That was the only thing I remembered until I got out of the gym and I fell again,' she said from hospital.

'My friends were crying because they saw my injury.'

President Marcos condemned the attack by 'foreign terrorists', describing it as 'senseless' and 'heinous'.

Military chief General Romeo Brawner said the bombing may have been a revenge attack for military operations against three Islamist militant groups - Dawlah Islamiyah-Philippines, Abu Sayyaf and Maute - in western Mindanao in recent days. 

He said at a press conference: 'That [a revenge attack] is one angle we are looking into. 

'Based on the evidence that we gathered there is a big percentage that points to the Maute-ISIS.'

Pro-Islamic State Maute and Abu Sayyaf militants - including foreign and local fighters - held Marawi under siege in 2017.

The Philippine military wrested back the ruined city after a five-month battle that claimed more than 1,000 lives.

'There are strong indications of a foreign element (in Sunday's attack),' Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro told reporters. 

Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao del Sur are part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The country's Muslim minority were given self-rule in Bangsamoro under former president Rodrigo Duterte as part of efforts to head off the lure of violent extremism.

Militant attacks on buses, Catholic churches and public markets have been a feature of decades-long unrest in the region.

Manila signed a peace pact with the nation's largest rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, in 2014, ending their deadly armed rebellion.

But smaller bands of Muslim fighters opposed to the peace deal remain, including militants professing allegiance to the Islamic State group. Communist rebels also operate in the region.

Mindanao State University issued a statement condemning 'the act of violence', as it suspended classes and deployed more security personnel on the campus.

'We stand in solidarity with our Christian community and all those affected by this tragedy,' the university said.

Marawi city Mayor Majul Gandamra urged members of the Muslim and Christian communities to remain united.

'Our city has long been a beacon of peaceful coexistence and harmony, and we will not allow such acts of violence to overshadow our collective commitment to peace and unity,' Gandamra said in a statement condemning the attack.