(UPDATE) 2 killed, 7 injured in church grenade attack in Cotabato

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Xinhua) - At least two people were killed and seven others injured in a grenade attack on a church in North Cotabato, local authorities said today.    

The incident happened at around 7:40 p.m. on Wednesday (1140 GMT) when motorcycle-riding men fired a rifle grenade at the United Church of Christ in the Philippines in Pikit town, local police chief Mautin Pangandigan said.

He said the blast occurred as the church service was winding down, and that the fatalities included a teacher and a nurse of a nearby town, who were seated at the rear portion of the chapel where the grenade appeared to have landed.

"Two suspects were seen fleeing after the explosion on a motorbike," said Pangandigan.

Local officials condemned the attack on the Christian church, as security was beefed up amid the visit of Vice President Jejomar Binay to the central Mindanao region today.

Muslim separatists and leftist rebels are known to operate in the province, carrying out attacks in the past against government and civilian targets, but rarely against churches.