The suspects came from the same family, and the Indonesian President ordered a thorough investigation of the church bombing.
The picture shows that on May 13, in Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia, security personnel were on guard outside the church where the explosion occurred. Xinhua News Agency issued Kurniawan photo
□ Our reporter Li Yazhou Jun
According to local media reports, on the 14th, Indonesian President Joko ordered a comprehensive investigation into the serial bombings in Surabaya Church, and called on the Indonesian Parliament to pass the anti-terrorism amendment bill submitted by the government in 2016 as soon as possible.
On the morning of the 13th local time, three churches in Surabaya, Indonesia’s second largest city, were attacked by explosions. Up to now, the police have confirmed that 14 people were killed and more than 40 people were injured. This is also the attack with the largest number of casualties in Indonesia since 2010.
The suspect actually came from the same family.
According to reports, Indonesian police said that three explosions occurred between 7: 30 am and 8: 00 am local time on the 13th. The people who carried out the three serial bombings came from the same family, including a 9-year-old girl.
On the morning of the same day, 46-year-old Dita e Piard Tuo drove his 42-year-old wife Phuket Kushwati and two daughters to a church, and then drove a car loaded with explosives to the second church. His two sons rushed into the crowd in another church on motorcycles full of explosives. At least 14 people were killed and dozens injured in these three successive suicide bombings.
Frans Mangra, a police spokesman in East Java, told reporters at the site of the first explosion that eight people died at the scene of the serial attack. In the first explosion, four people were killed, including at least one attacker; The second and third attacks each killed two people.
A street vendor who witnessed the first attack said that two men forcibly entered the church yard on motorcycles, one of whom was carrying a backpack, and the explosion immediately occurred.
A doorman who witnessed the second attack said that a woman was carrying two bags to the church and security personnel stopped her. She forced her way in and the explosion happened in a flash. In the third attack, a car exploded in the parking lot of the church, igniting dozens of bicycles nearby.
It is also reported that the police arrested an imminent suicide attacker and foiled a possible fourth church attack.
IS claimed responsibility for the church bombing.
At the press conference held on the 14th, Indonesian police chief Tito said that the serial explosion in Surabaya was not the sole action of local terrorists in Indonesia, but was directed by the overseas extremist organization "Islamic State" (IS), and the bomb used was detonated by vibration, the technology came from abroad, and children were used as suicide attackers for the first time.
According to reports, the police believe that the "Theocracy Guerrilla" (JAD) affiliated with the extremist organization "Islamic State" is behind the serial bombing attack. The police believe that Piard is the head of the "theocracy" in East Java. He recently returned from Syria with his family, where they joined the so-called "caliphate" of the Islamic State.
It is reported that the attack on the 13th may be related to a prison riot a few days ago. On the 8th of this month, in a heavily guarded prison on the outskirts of Jakarta, Indonesia, all 155 extremists in custody rioted, seized guns and hijacked several policemen. After confronting the police for 36 hours, they killed five anti-terrorism policemen and finally surrendered. The "Islamic State" claimed that the rioters were its members.
In recent years, Indonesia has frequently become the target country of terrorist attacks, the most typical one being the Bali bombing in 2002. Some analysts pointed out that Indonesia has a population of about 250 million, and more than 90% believe in Islam, making it the country with the largest Muslim population in the world. It IS reported that there are currently more than 200 Indonesian IS members in Syria, while others say that the number may be between 500 and 700. The return of these people to China is undoubtedly a serious terrorist threat to Indonesia.
The Embassy of China reminded to strengthen prevention.
According to reports, Indonesian President Joko called such acts "barbaric and inhuman" at the site of the serial bombings. "These acts violate our religious values, and no words can express our deep condolences to the deceased victims. Indonesia will not allow such attacks to happen again." According to the report, Zoco has asked the police to immediately investigate the attacker’s criminal network and solve the problem from the root cause.
China’s Embassy in Indonesia issued an announcement on the 13th to remind China citizens in Indonesia to strengthen security precautions. According to the Embassy of China in Indonesia and the Consulate General in Surabaya, there are no reports of China citizens’ casualties.
According to the announcement, Ramadan is approaching, and the Embassy and Consulate of China in Indonesia reminds China citizens in Indonesia to pay close attention to the local security situation, earnestly raise their awareness of safety precautions, and avoid going to crowded areas such as religious sites and minimize unnecessary going out if there is no special need. In case of emergency, be sure to keep calm, leave the scene quickly or take self-protection measures according to the situation, call the police in time and contact the China Embassy in Indonesia for assistance.