PHILIPPINES CHRISTMAS JIHAD: Grenade explosion outside Catholic Church by suspected Islamic militants

Sixteen people have been wounded in a grenade explosion outside a Catholic church during a Christmas Eve mass on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines, according to local police and a priest. 

SMH  No group has claimed responsibility for the Mindanao attack, but Muslim rebels and Islamic extremists are known to be active in the province, where there have been blasts in the past.

Bomb experts at the site said that there were reports that another grenade or improvised bomb was also left in the area.

In September, 14 people died and 70 were wounded when an improvised bomb exploded in a crowded market in Davao City, hometown of President Rodrigo Duterte. Nine people, who were linked to an Islamic State militant-affiliated group have been arrested for the attack.

Police in Australia and Indonesia have already confirmed they had foiled bomb plots, while Malaysian security forces have arrested suspected Islamic militants.