The two persons of interest in the Marawi City bombing are wanted for murder cases and are connected to a local terrorist group based in Mindanao, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Tuesday, Dec. 5. 

PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said the two were acting suspicious before an explosive device ripped through a gymnasium inside the Marawi City Campus of the Mindanao State University (MSU).

“Prior to the explosion, they saw these two persons right inside the gym. They were acting very suspicious that led to the suspicions that they may be involved,” said Fajardo in a press briefing at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

“They have previous criminal records, that’s why we were able to get their identification through the pictures that were shown to the witnesses,” she added.

At least four people died while around 50 others, five of them are currently in critical condition, were injured as a result of the bomb attack that happened inside the gym while mass was being celebrated.

Fajardo said they cou;d not yet reveal the names of the two persons of interest due to the ongoing follow-up operations.

But she said they are also looking at two more people who served as lookouts.

“So far, there is no clear indication as to their motive but suffice it to say that the group which they are affiliated was involved in previous bombings especially there in Mindanao,” said Fajardo.

The military earlier said the Marawi City bombing could be a retaliatory attack to the series of successful operations that led to the death of members and leaders of local terror groups.

Last week, at least 11 members of the Daulah Islamiyah were killed in a military operation in Maguindanao. 

“We are in pursuit of these persons of interest and other possible individuals behind this MSU incident,” said Fajardo.