Makassar cathedral bombing
The Makassar cathedral bombing was an attack occurred on 28 March 2021, around 10:28 Time in Indonesia|Central Indonesia Time (UTC+8) at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, during a Palm Sunday service.[1][2][3] It was the first church bombing in Indonesia since the 13 May 2018 bombings of three churches in Surabaya.
Several churchgoers were reportedly injured in the attack. The South Sulawesi regional police described the incident as a suicide bombing. Indonesian National Police spokesman Argo Yuwono said there were two perpetrators of the attack.[4]
The location of the bombing was in one vicinity with the Makassar City Police headquarters and the Makassar City Hall. Human remains were found at the scene.[5] There were no deaths from the church's congregation, but both of the perpetrators were killed and mutilated on impact. However, 20 people were injured in the blast.[4][6] According to the CCTV recording, there were three pedestrian bypassers and a sedan car right before the explosion occured.[7]
Bombing
The bombing happened outside the Sacred Heart Cathedral of Makassar, the oldest cathedral in the city, while a Palm Sunday service was being conducted inside. The explosion occurred at the southeastern gate of the cathedral, near the intersection of Thamrin and Kajaolalido streets. According to police, the perpetrators were riding a motorcycle and intended to enter the church when they were stopped by police in front of the cathedral. When the perpetrators were asked to get off the motorcycle, the blast occurred.[7][8]
Reaction
Indonesian scholar on terrorism, Al Chaidar, said that the attack was carried by Islamic terrorist group Jamaah Ansharut Daulah. Alissa Qotrunnada, the eldest daughter of former president and democracy activist Abdurrahman Wahid offered her condolences and condemned the attack as a "wound of the nation". Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas also condemned the attack. Nahdlatul Ulama condemned the attack, stating anything that harms social harmony is never justified. Amnesty International condemned the attack as "an insult to human rights principles". The city mayor Ramdhan Pomanto urged people to stop sharing photos and video footage of the explosion. He planned to visit the scene and phoned the pastor of the church to confirm there were no victims from the church's congregation.[17] The Indonesian Churches Fellowship (PGI) asked people to be calm and trust the authorities to investigate the attack, while also discouraging people from sharing images of the attack. Indonesian vice president Ma'ruf Amin urged police to investigate the attack as fast as possible. President Joko Widodo condemned the attack.
The Chairman of Islamic fundamentalist group 212 Movement Alumni, Slamet Ma'arif, also condemned the bombing and called on the public not to speculate on the motive of the attackers. He claimed the attack had nothing to with religion, so the public should instead focus on Muhammad Rizieq Shihab's trial and the police's December 2020 killing of members of the Islamic Defenders Front.
References
- â "Explosion rocks church in Makassar: Police", The Jakarta Post, 28 March 2021.Â
- â "Indonesia police: explosion in Makassar suspected to be a suicide bombing", Reuters, 28 March 2021.Â
- â "Makassar explosion: Worshippers wounded in Indonesian church bombing", BBC News, 28 March 2021. (en-GB)Â
- â 4.0 4.1 Sholahuddin Al Ayyubi (28 March 2021). Pelaku Bom Bunuh Diri di Gereja Katedral Makassar Dua Orang. Bisnis.com.
- â Potongan Tubuh Ditemukan Usai Bom di Gereja Katedral Makassar (id-ID). CNN Indonesia (28 March 2021).
- â Dwi Argo Santosa (28 March 2021). Ledakan Bom, Polda: Tidak Ada Jemaat Gereja Katedral Makassar Menjadi Korban (id).
- â 7.0 7.1 Hermawan Mappiwali (28 March 2021). Pastor: Pelaku Bom Bunuh Diri Berusaha Masuk ke Gereja Katedral Makassar (id). Detik.com.
- â Pelaku Bom Bunuh Diri di Makassar Diduga Kendarai Motor (id-ID). CNN Indonesia (28 March 2021).