Manila (UCAN): An 18-year old catechist, Jun Mark Luda, and his 15-year old cousin, Marialyn Luda, were killed in a bomb explosion in the town of Isulan in the southern Philippine province of Sultan Kudarat on September 2.
 
At least 14 others were reported injured in the blast at an Internet cafe in the town.
 
The attackers, thought to be an extremist group opposed to a peace deal with Manila, came five days after another bomb explosion killed three people and injured 36 others in the same town.
 

DAVAO (SE): A bomb blast ripped through the Roxas Night Market in Davao City on September 2 leaving 14 people dead, including a pregnant woman and her child, and 68 others injured in its wake.

Filipinos from Davao living in Hong Kong reported a sleepless night, with some unable to contact family and being left wondering overnight if they were safe or not. One described it as being a city of fear, as staying home or going out seem to be equally dangerous.

VATICAN (AsiaNews): Pope Francis expressed his great sorrow for the victims of what he described as the terrible massacre in Ankara, Turkey, when two bombs were detonated in the midst of a peaceful rally on October 10.

He called on everyone gathered in St. Peter’s Square for his weekly midday prayer on October 11 to pray in silence for the dead, the wounded and bereaved families.

BANGKOK (Agencies): An interreligious prayer service outside the Erawan Shrine in Bangkok, Thailand, on August 21, was attended by 800 people to honour the memory of the 20 people who died in the explosion at the Hindu holy place on August 17 and to pray for their loved ones and scores of injured.

Each of the victims was mentioned by name, including those from Hong Kong who died in the senseless violence.