Explosion Disrupts Palm Sunday Church Service in Makassar, Police Investigating Incident That Injured 20

Explosion shakes church service in Makassar

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An explosion took place outside the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Makassar, South Sulawesi on Sunday, 28th March 2021 during a Palm Sunday service.

The attack was attributed to two suicide bombers, who were both killed in the blast.

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No other deaths were reported, although 20 people, mostly from the congregation, were injured.

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Local police are investigating the tragic incident

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Image credit: AP

According to National Police Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo, four people have been arrested in Bima, West Nusa Tenggara for alleged relations to the terrorist group.

The police have linked the attack to Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD), a terrorist network affiliated with the Islamic State group.

The same group was also linked to the 2018 Surabaya bombings, which killed 28, and the 2019 Jolo Cathedral bombings in the Philippines which killed 20.

Sunday’s Makassar church explosion is currently under investigation by the Indonesian National Police’s counter-terrorism division, Detachment 88.

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President Joko Widodo issues a statement

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Image credit: Cabinet Secretariat

In response, President Joko Widodo, commonly known as Jokowi, has issued an official statement condemning the attack.

“I have instructed the National Police Chief to investigate the network [behind the attack] to its roots,” he said in the statement, published on the Cabinet Secretariat’s YouTube channel.

He is also urging the public to remain calm as “the state guarantees everyone’s right to practice their beliefs without fear”.

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It’s time to come together and unite

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There’s no denying that these are difficult times, as bad news seems to be all around on top of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

However, in these times we have no choice but to come together and unite as a nation to combat any attempt to disrupt the diversity that makes us strong.

After all, there is no better time to demonstrate that Unity in Diversity is not a mere slogan, but also a value that we live by as Indonesians.

More news from Indonesia:

• Kopitagram’s banana milk spray
• Nongsa D-Town is launched in Batam
• Istinja-friendly urinal design

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Cover image adapted from AP and the Cabinet Secretariat