Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed condolences on Sunday to his Philippine counterpart, Rodrigo Duterte, over an explosion that occurred outside a cathedral in the southern province of Sulu and noted that Russia was ready to enhance cooperation between the two countries in combating terrorism.
Earlier in the day, media reports emerged that one improvised explosive device was detonated inside the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, located in the Sulu province’s Jolo municipality, while another bomb exploded near the building’s entrance. The Rappler news portal reported, citing the latest update by Philippine police, that 20 people were killed as a result of the attack, including 14 civilians, five servicemen of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and one soldier of the Philippine Coast Guard.
The local police also noted that at least 111 people were injured, including 90 civilians.
“A crime committed against civilians who had congregated for church services is shocking in its cynicism and cruelty. I expect that the masterminds and perpetrators of this crime will sustain the punishment they deserve … I would like to reiterate our readiness to further step up interaction with our Philippine partners in combating the terrorist threat in all its forms and manifestations,” a statement published on the Kremlin website reads.
Putin also noted that people in Russia shared the grief of the victims’ families and hoped for a prompt recovery of those injured in the attack.