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At least 9 wounded as suspected suicide bomber targets Indonesian church

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Agustinus Beo Da Costa and Nilufar Rizki, Reuters

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/reuters/03/28/20210328-indonesia-explosion-rtr.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption>Armed police officers stand guard along a closed road following an explosion outside a Catholic church in Makassar, South Sulawesi province, Indonesia, March 28, 2021. <em>Reuters</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>JAKARTA<strong> (2nd UPDATE) - </strong>A suspected suicide bomber blew themselves up outside a Catholic church in the Indonesian city of Makassar on Sunday, wounding nine people on the first day of the Easter Holy Week, police and a witness said.</p><p>The congregation had been inside the church on the island of Sulawesi at the time of the explosion and the lone attacker was the only fatality, police said.</p><p>Father Wilhemus Tulak, a priest at the church, told Indonesian media that the suspected bomber tried to enter the church grounds on a motorbike, but had been stopped by a security guard.</p><p>Security camera footage showed a blast that blew flame, smoke and debris into the middle of the road.</p><p>Police did not say who might be responsible for the apparent attack and there was no immediate claim of responsibility.</p><p>Police blamed the Islamic State-inspired Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD) group for suicide attacks in 2018 on churches and a police post in the city of Surabaya that killed over 30 people.</p><p>Boy Rafli Amar, the head of the country&#x27;s National Counterterrorism Agency, described Sunday&#x27;s attack as an act of terrorism.</p><p>Makassar Mayor Danny Pomanto said the blast could have caused far more casualties if it had taken place at the church&#x27;s main gate instead of a side entrance.</p><p>Makassar, Sulawesi&#x27;s biggest city, reflects the religious makeup of Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority country with a substantial Christian minority and followers of other religions.</p><p>&quot;Whatever the motive is, this act isn&#x27;t justified by any religion because it harms not just one person but others, too,&quot; Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, Indonesia&#x27;s religious affairs minister, said in a statement.</p><p>Gomar Gultom, head of the Indonesian Council of Churches, described the attack as a &quot;cruel incident&quot; as Christians were celebrating Palm Sunday, and urged people to remain calm and trust the authorities.</p><p>Indonesia&#x27;s deadliest Islamist militant attack took place on the tourist island of Bali in 2002, when bombers killed 202 people, most of them foreign tourists.</p><p>In subsequent years, security forces in Indonesia scored some major successes in tackling militancy, but more recently there has been a resurgence of militant violence. </p><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div><div><strong>FROM THE ARCHIVES:</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xD8u4PxGx58?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>Boy Rafli Amar, the head of the country's National Counterterrorism Agency, described Sunday's attack as an act of terrorism.</p>

Boy Rafli Amar, the head of the country's National Counterterrorism Agency, described Sunday's attack as an act of terrorism.

At least 9 wounded as suspected suicide bomber targets Indonesian church

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At least 9 wounded as suspected suicide bomber targets Indonesian church

Agustinus Beo Da Costa and Nilufar Rizki,

Reuters

Published Mar 28, 2021 12:25 PM PHT

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Updated Mar 29, 2021 12:45 AM PHT

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