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
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
No comments:
Post a Comment