At least four people were killed, including three women, regional force commander Maj. Gen. Gabriel Virey III said. Another 50 victims were taken to local hospitals, mostly with minor injuries.
“This is clearly an act of terrorism. It is not just a conflict between two people,” said Taha Mandangan, head of security at the university.
Army and police units immediately cordoned off the area. An intensive investigation is underway including checking CCTV camera footage. Checkpoints were established throughout Marawi City.
No one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, but authorities suspect Islamist radicals who are still present in the region despite years of police operations. The last of them took place last Friday: in the south of the province, 11 militants were eliminated with the support of artillery and aviation.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. condemned the attack and said it was the work of foreign terrorists.
THE NAIS IS OFFICIAL EDITOR ON NAIS NEWS