The dead included three men shot as security forces fired on a crowd of onlookers who gathered after the blast, state government spokesman Pam Ayuba told AFP, adding that "there were 10 dead, seven parishioners and three that were shot dead by soldiers."
"Three people were shot dead by soldiers in a bid to disperse the crowd," he said.
The bomber was also killed, "mutilated beyond recognition".
Ayuba said the church building was badly damaged in the blast."The church suffered substantial damage, with the roof brought down."
Several others were seriously injured when the suicide bomber blew himself up when he crashed his explosives-laden car into the gate of St. Finbar`s Catholic church as worshippers were filing out from morning mass.
Boy scouts tried to stop the car, he said.
"The security guards, who were mainly members of the Boys Brigade, tried to prevent the car from entering the compound and in the process the car exploded." (*)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
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