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
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
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