Two suspected suicide bombers blew themselves up outside a Catholic church in the Indonesian city of Makassar on Sunday, wounding 14 people on the first day of the Easter Holy Week, police and witnesses said. The bombers blew themselves up outside a packed Roman Catholic cathedral on Indonesia's Sulawesi island during a Palm Sunday Mass, police said. A cellular video obtained by The Associated Press showed body parts scattered near a burning motorbike at the gates of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral in Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi province. National police spokesman Inspector General Argo Yuwono said at a press conference here that the injured suffered from wounds around their necks, chests and legs. Some had blisters on their hands and feet. He added that he is unable to confirm the number of deaths. Local police previously said the bomber acted alone. The congregation had been inside the church at the time of the explosion, South Sulawesi police spokesman E Zulpan told Reuters. South Sulawesi police chief Merdisyam told reporters that five church staff members and four worshippers are among the wounded. Due to health restrictions, there were few people in attendance at mass. The attack came as Indonesia was on high alert following the arrest of Aris Sumarsono, known as Zulkarnaen, the leader of Jemmaah Islamiyah in December. Wilhelmus Tulak, a Catholic priest who led the Mass when the bomb exploded at about 10:30 a.m., told reporters that a loud bang shocked his congregation who had just finished the Sunday service marking the beginning of the Holy Week before Easter. The first batch of churchgoers was walking out of the church while another group was coming in when the blast happened, he said. He said that security guards suspected two motorists who wanted to enter the church. One of them detonated his explosives and died near the gate after being confronted by guards. The wounded included four guards and several churchgoers. Yuwono told a news conference in the capital, Jakarta, that police were still trying to identify two attackers on a motorbike who used powerful explosives. He said that police were investigating whether they were linked to a local affiliate of the banned Jemaah Islamiyah network or were acting independently. About 64 suspects had been detained by Indonesia's counterterrorism squad, known as Densus 88, in several provinces, including 19 last month in Makassar. The arrests followed a tipoff about possible attacks against police and places of worship. Security camera footage showed a blast that blew flame, smoke and debris into the middle of the road. Video from the scene showed police had set up a cordon around the church and cars parked nearby were damaged. Police did not say who might be responsible for the attack and there was no immediate claim of responsibility. Police are investigating whether the suspects belong to a network, said Yuwono. Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Sunday condemned the attack, and called on the public to remain calm. "I strongly condemn the act of terrorism and I have ordered the police chief to thoroughly investigate the perpetrators' networks and expose the network to its roots," said the president, known popularly as Jokowi, in an online live broadcast. "Terrorism is a crime against humanity and has nothing to do with any religion. All religious teachings reject terrorism. "The entire state apparatus will not tolerate this kind of terrorism, and I ask the public to remain calm and carry out worship because the state guarantees the security of religious people to worship without fear," he added. Jokowi also asked the public to work together to fight terrorism and radicalism. "For the victims who were injured, we pray that they are given a speedy recovery and the state guarantees all medical expenses and care for the victims," said Jokowi. Boy Rafli Amar, the head of the country's National Counterterrorism Agency, described Sunday's attack as an act of terrorism. Makassar Mayor Danny Pomanto said Sunday's blast could have caused far more casualties if it had taken place at the church's main gate instead of a side entrance. "Whatever the motive is, this act isn't justified by any religion because it harms not just one person but others, too," Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, Indonesia's religious affairs minister, said in a statement. Gomar Gultom, head of the Indonesian Council of Churches, described the attack as a "cruel incident" as Christians were celebrating Palm Sunday, and urged people to remain calm and trust the authorities. — Agencies
