Suicide Bombing in Indonesian Church Leaves 22 Wounded
Al Qaida Terrorist Network, Jemaah Islamiyah is one of Suspects in Latest Terrorist Act
The most recent incident of suicide bombing in Indonesia on Sunday left at least 22 people, who just attended the regular worship, seriously injured.
The body of the anonymous bomber was found by police badly mangled near the entrance of the Tenth Bethel Gospel Church in the city of Solo.
A report from the Washington Post said Indonesian National Police chief Timur Pradopo concluded the explosive was attached to man's abdomen and that DNA tests have been conducted to determine the bomber's identity.
The worst bombing incident in the country took place in Bali in October of 2002. More than 200 people perished including 88 Australian citizens and injured another 240. Two bombs were detonated in that attack while a third device exploded outside the U.S. consulate in Denpasar causing slight damage.
Some members of the Jemaah Islamiyah were arrested and three were sentenced to death in connection to this occurrence.
Abu Bakar Bashir, the spiritual leader of this terrorist movement, was imprisoned for only 18 months because of his indirect involvement.
A witness confirmed that the alleged bomber went inside the internet café where she works before the explosion happened and searched on websites about the al-Qaida and a local extremist group. He left behind personal a small bag with a copy of the Quran, a cell phone charger and mask.
These things are already in the hands of the authorities.
"This terroristic act is proof that certain sectors with vague intentions are still out there to wreak havoc in the country," said security minister Djoko Suyanto.
Indonesia is a major Muslim nation of about 237 million people and has been described by U.S. security experts as a base for fanatics to carry out their operations against Westerners, Jews and government officials.
Investigators believe the bomber entered the place of worship through a side entrance and mixed with the worshippers before setting off the device after the service just as the people were about to leave.
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was quick to condemn the attack on innocent people.
"Whoever are the perpetrators must be arrested immediately since crime is crime and terrorism is terrorism," he stated.