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JAKARTA – An explosion outside a Catholic church in the South Sulawesi provincial capital Makassar on Sunday (March 28) killed the suspected suicide bomber and injured nine people, police said.
The South Sulawesi police chief told reporters that according to initial findings, one person was killed during the blast outside the church compound. Five church staff members and four worshipers were injured and taken to nearby hospitals, it added.
“What we can be sure of is that there is only one body, supposedly the suicide bomber,” he was quoted as saying by Kompas TV. “The body was attached to a motorcycle, apparently (he) had not yet gotten off because he was stopped by a church official. “
He noted that although the bombing was “high-explosive,” there was no significant damage to the church.
Police have established a cordon around the church and a disaster victim identification team is investigating the incident.
Earlier, Priest Wilhelmus Tulak told Kompas TV that he heard a “very loud explosion” around 10:30 am, after a second mass had ended.
“Two people on a motorcycle wanted to enter (the church compound), but a security officer held them (at the door) and the explosion occurred,” he said, adding that the security officer had previously observed the two people. “suspicious”.
Wilhelmus said several worshipers were injured by glass that was thrown from broken windows.
Makassar Cathedral is near the popular Karebosi Park, where people like to exercise.
The Catholic faithful in Indonesia are celebrating Palm Sunday, a week before Easter.
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