| Submit your comments on this article | |
| Southeast Asia | |
| Suicide bombing at Indonesian church injures 22 | |
| 2011-09-26 | |
The bomber’s mangled body lay at the entrance of the Tenth Bethel Gospel Church. Around him, screaming people were splattered in blood. Police Chief Gen. Timur Pradopo said the low-intensity device appeared to be attached to the man’s stomach. “We are now waiting for DNA test results to confirm his identity,” Pradopo said. “We hope to reveal it soon.” A woman working at an Internet cafe near the church in the Central Java town of Solo said the man had visited her shop an hour before the explosion and browsed websites about Al-Qaeda and a local Islamist group. He left a bag behind containing a copy of the Qur’an, a mask and a cellphone charger, Rina Ristriningsih told The Associated Press. She said all of the items had been confiscated by police. It appeared that the bomber entered the church through a side door, mingled with worshippers, and then, when the service was over, headed out with them. He detonated his device near the entrance, killing himself and wounding at least 22 people, said Pradopo, the police chief. “Everyone was screaming,” Fani, a witness, told Metro TV. Like many Indonesians she goes by only one name. “I saw fiery sparks and, near the entrance, a man dead on the ground, his entrails spilling out. People around him were splattered with blood.” Members of the congregation said they did not recognize the bomber. | |
| Posted by:Steve White |