during the weekend, a young man tried to detonate an improvised explosive device during a mass ceremony at the Saint church -Joseph in Medan.
The Sunday, August 28, a solemn Mass at St. Joseph Church in Medan turned into a crime scene after a young man tried to detonate a series of improvised explosive devices (EEI) stored in his backpack. The explosive did not go away, however, and the attempted attack in Medan ultimately failed.
The ceremony started as a normal elsewhere Catholic rally in Medan, but when the parish priest began his sermon, the young man rose from his seat and with a knife in the hand. The would-be bomber first tried to attack the priest. Church of spectators then saw sparks from backpack of the child, which quickly turned into a small fire.
The congregation escaped the building, fearing that the backpack would indeed create a larger explosion. Some members stayed inside to help the priest dealing with FDI, while others immediately called the police. Fortunately there was no loss of life following the incident. The striker himself suffered some minor burns, and the priest received lacerations to his left hand.
When the force bomb squad tactics and the Indonesian police arrived, they set the backpack and held the young. Inside the bag, they found several improvised explosive devices dud and other sharp objects that could have acted as shrapnel.
Police have only identified the young man to the press as an old 18-year-old male with IAH initials. After further investigation, police confirmed they found a symbol drawn by ISIS hand inside the IAH portfolio.
Inspired by Paris
Image via Wikimedia
The local police commissioner Mardiaz Dwihananto told BBC Indonesia striker were inspired by the recent ISIS attack in Paris, where he saw on the Internet. "Although he claims that someone ordered him to do so, we need to wait for the investigation team for more details," said Mardiaz.
event - , although without success - nevertheless attracted the attention of Tito Karnavian, the head of the national police Indonesia. with training in antiterrorism, Karnavian said "was it an act of one man, meaning he visited radical websites, chatted with radicals, and planned its own actions without external support? Or is it part of an organization? This is what we are studying. "
If the bombing attempt was ordered by ISIS, it will be the second time that the terrorist organization tried to attack Indonesia last year. The first attack took place in January in Jakarta, causing many injuries, and claiming four lives. attack in Sunday's attempt to Medan certainly has the same atmosphere as the previous attack.
the culprit acted in broad daylight and has targeted a densely populated public place. the incident raises questions about the vulnerability of the Indonesian population is the radical ideology as that ISIS.
After the attack, the Minister for political, legal and security Affairs told the press that the government is not the only agency to keep an eye on such activities, but it is also the duty of the community. A combination of citizen vigilance, local police, and the unity of struggle against the government of terrorism should help keep everyone safe, the ministry said.
To date, expatriates in Indonesia were able to enjoy a culture of religious tolerance and acceptance. Although Indonesia has the largest Muslim population, it can also be called one of the most moderate countries in terms of religious fervor.