Terrorist honeymoon in Indonesia

 More details start to emerge after the suicide bomb attack against a Catholic Cathedral in Makassar yesterday shocked the nation of Indonesia.

National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo confirmed that the two suspects in their early 20s, both killed on the spot, were members of the notorious IS-linked terrorist group Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD). The couple, married six months ago, received online training on bomb making.
 
Responding to the inquiry on how the couple made the pressure cooker bomb, the head of the Indonesian National Counter-Terrorism Agency (BNPT) Commissioner General Boy Rafli Amar, said, "There is information related to online training on social media developed by them. So they developed the procedure for making explosives, and were in touch with some senior sources who were trained abroad.” 

The couple, identified only with their initials as L and YSF by the authorities, regularly attended a JAD study group named Villa Mutiara, where each member takes turn to teach doctrine, plan for jihad, and get involved in buying materials and tools for suicide bombings. 

According to the couple’s neighbor, Nuraini, the wife was four-month pregnant at the time of the attack. Listyo also said in today’s press conference that “L had left a will to his parents saying that he is bidding them goodbye and was ready to be martyred.” The police chief added that following bombing yesterday, the police arrested four people who belonged to the same study group as the suspects. Four more people in Jakarta and Bekasi, on the outskirts of the capital, were also arrested. The operation uncovered five potential bombs as well as ingredients to make bombs.

A church pastor from Makassar told ICC that despite the presence of evil, “There were a few miracles from God before and during the attack,” he said, pointing to the capture of 26 terrorists last month by the police. Among them, some were ready to blow themselves up.

Also, given the powerful blast that shattered the windows and glasses from a nearby hotel and cars, it was a miracle that all the victims stay alive, while the terrorist couple turned into human remains.

The second Mass also ended ten minutes earlier than usual in preparation for the third Mass. If it were to end on time, the attack could have caused more casualties from the dispersing congregation. As of Monday afternoon, among the 20 wounded victims, 15 people remained in hospital and the rest discharged. ICC will continue to follow up on the updates of this attack.

For interviews please contact Alison Garcia: press@persecution.org

About ICC
International Christian Concern is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) charitable organization focused on human rights, religious freedom and assisting the persecuted Christian Church around the world. 

Media Contact
Alison Garcia, Communications Fellow
E-mail: press@persecution.org 
Phone: (301)358-2373

International Christian Concern
2020 Pennsylvania Ave. NW #941, Washington, D.C. 20006
www.persecution.org | E-mail: icc@persecution.org

JAD chooses to be jags in Indonesia on Palm Sunday

 International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that on March 28, a suspected suicide bomber blew up outside a Catholic church in Makassar, Sulawesi, while the church was having the Palm Sunday Mass. At least 20 people wounded in total, some of them in critical condition.

The explosion at Makassar Cathedral Church’s compound occurred around 10:28 am local time when the congregation was at the second Mass. Nearby CCTV shows that the flame from the blast swallowed four people in front of the church compound. Those injured, including church guards, members, and a toddler, were immediately sent to the hospital. Two persons killed were believed to be one of the attackers.

Update 3/28/21 12:31PM: The Indonesian police have confirmed that the terrorist group JAD is behind the attack. The two suspects killed on the spot were a man and a woman who were associated with the Jolo suicide attacks in the Philippines in the last years.

According to a video reviewed by ICC, a wounded man at the church said he saw the attackers come. He was trying to stop them as they wanted to invite themselves in. He tried to hold off the one riding the motorbike, who later died in the attack.

South Sulawesi police spokesman E. Zulpan told Reuters that it was unclear whether body parts at the scene were only from the attacker. Although no terrorist group has come out to claim responsibility, the Islamic State-linked Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD) could be the culprit, since it has launched several deadly suicide attacks against Indonesian churches in the past. Also, in recent weeks the police in Makassar and several other cities in Indonesia had been arresting dozens of members of the terror group.

Responding to the suicide attack, the Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI) chairman Gomar Gultom said, “This ill-fated incident adds to the long list of acts of violence and terror that have occurred in the archipelago.” He calls on all people not to be afraid and anxious, but to remain vigilant. He also invites Christians to pray for peace of the society.

The representative of the Archdiocese Curia, Fr. Frans Nipa, confirmed in a statement that the Archbishop of Makassar, Msgr. John Liku 'Ada, like all the priests who live near the cathedral, is doing well. All other Palm Sunday activities planned for the rest of the day were canceled.

The police alerted a pastor from Bandung that churches in Indonesia stay vigilant after the suicide bomb attack took place. The police conducted patrols and strengthened security at churches all over Indonesia, urging churches to hold service virtually.

Gina Goh, ICC’s Regional Manager for Southeast Asia, said, “As Christians around the world prepare themselves for the Holy Week, it is pure evil that the terrorists deliberately chose this time to attack and inflict suffering on Christians. We ask for prayers for the wounded and urge the Indonesian authorities to investigate and arrest the terrorists responsible for this attack. Terrorism should not be allowed to exist in a country that upholds Pancasila.”

For interviews please contact Alison Garcia: press@persecution.org

About ICC
International Christian Concern is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) charitable organization focused on human rights, religious freedom and assisting the persecuted Christian Church around the world. 

Media Contact
Alison Garcia, Communications Fellow
E-mail: press@persecution.org 
Phone: (301)358-2373

International Christian Concern
2020 Pennsylvania Ave. NW #941, Washington, D.C. 20006
www.persecution.org | E-mail: icc@persecution.org

Who gave al-Shabaab IED's?

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that at least five passengers died and dozens severely injured on Wednesday morning, March 24, after a bus they were traveling in ran over a roadside improvised bomb on Lafey-Mandera road near the Kenya-Somali border in Mandera County.

The public service vehicle was traveling to Mandera town when the incident occurred near Arabia town. The North Eastern Police Commander suggested that the attackers had crossed the border a day ago targeting police camps in Lafey and non-local education officers who are facilitating national exams in the region.

Speaking to the ICC from Mandera, a local church leader confirmed that the injured passengers were at the Mandera General Hospital with six people in critical condition. He added, “The security situation in Mandera hasn’t improved, although we have not witnessed many attacks since the beginning of the year. We always live in fear especially when we get information that the Somali-based al-Shabaab members have been spotted. We continue to urge our brothers and sisters to remain vigilant and avoid traveling through high-risk roads.”

While on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday afternoon, Mandera Senator, Mr. Mohamed M. Mahamud, condemned the early morning attack calling it “A serious terror attack” and asked the government “to upscale security and make sure this matter is dealt with accordingly. We also urge our people to cooperate with security agencies and not to relent in reporting any suspicion.”

Today’s bus attack comes two months after another passenger bus in Wajir, northeastern Kenya, where a group of armed Al-Shabaab militants robbed travelers and the bus conductor after failing to find Christians in the bus. Over the last few years, Al-Shabaab has been targeting Christians and security personnel in the Northeastern region of Kenya that lies near the border with Somalia.

ICC’s Regional Manager for Africa, Nathan Johnson, said, “These continued attacks have devastated many families in Kenya. The group is making it so that an entire region of the country is unsafe for the majority of Kenyans to travel to, work in, or live in. These attacks must be stopped. Until buses and roads are safe to travel on, the Kenyan government must provide military protection that stops these attacks.”

For interviews please contact Alison Garcia: press@persecution.org

About ICC
International Christian Concern is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) charitable organization focused on human rights, religious freedom and assisting the persecuted Christian Church around the world. 

Media Contact
Alison Garcia, Communications Fellow
E-mail: press@persecution.org 
Phone: (301)358-2373

International Christian Concern
2020 Pennsylvania Ave. NW #941, Washington, D.C. 20006
www.persecution.org | E-mail: icc@persecution.org

 

Myanmar people continue to lose freedom

 International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that on February 28, the military and police raided the Kachin Baptist Church (KBC) in Lashio, Shan state twice, before taking away 14 Christians. According to the congregation, a group of youth caught plainclothes who had been spying on an anti-coup protestor earlier and investigated him in the compound before releasing him. The compound is large and people in the church were not even aware of what was going on. At the time, there was theological training underway. As retaliation, at 1:00 pm military and police forces in riot gear raided the church compound, knocking down the main gate of the church and causing some damage inside before arresting 13 people.

A source close to KBC told Voice of America Burmese service “The police searched KBC compound. A lot of police cars came and there were shootings. It seems like they used rubber bullets. Can’t say how many casualties there are.”

At 5:00 pm, the armed military and police forces returned and searched the church compound while intimidating people in the neighborhood. This time they took KBC church secretary, according to congregants who live nearby. Videos recorded by the neighbors examined by ICC documented the moments of the raids. At least dozens of police in gear were inside the church compound. Despite the fact that Christians at the KBC compound were not involved in the plainclothes episode earlier, the authorities had arrested a total of 14 people. This included four ministers, six church youth, three seminary students, and a church secretary.

Their names are as follow:

Church secretary:

1.    Sr. Dr. L Zau Ring

Four ministers

2.   Sr.Maw She

3.   Sr. Zau Doi Aung

4.   Sr. Seng Ra Awng

5.    Sr. K.D Naw Mai

Three seminary students

6.   Lagang Dau Gyung

7.   HangKum Hkawng Gyung

8.   Gum Sut Nan

Six youths

9.   Hawng Hkawng

10.  Peter

11.   Zau Ja Hpaw

12.   Ah Sut

13.   Hkaw Ying

14.   Dan Seng Awng

No one knows where these detainees are, as the police station in the Lashio area has no information to provide. The police from Lashio said these forces are not people who stationed in Lashio.

Gina Goh, ICC’s Regional Manager for Southeast Asia, said, “As the military junta cracks down on peaceful protests all over Myanmar, it is worrisome that 14 Christians from KBC Lashio have been arrested without due process. The Tatmadaw (Burmese Army) has been hostile towards ethnic Kachin, who are predominantly Christian. What might happen to them is very concerning. ICC calls for their release and urges the global Church to pay attention to this case and the ongoing anti-coup movement, as more innocent lives are lost each day.”

For interviews, please contact Alison Garcia: press@persecution.org. 

About ICC
International Christian Concern is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) charitable organization focused on human rights, religious freedom and assisting the persecuted Christian Church around the world. 

Media Contact
Alison Garcia, Communications Fellow
E-mail: press@persecution.org 
Phone: (301)-859-3842

International Christian Concern
2020 Pennsylvania Ave. NW #941, Washington, D.C. 20006
www.persecution.org | E-mail: icc@persecution.org