A police officer watches in front of the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Makassar, Indonesia on Sunday. Two suicide bombers attacked the Roman Catholic compound, injuring at least 20 people. Indra Abriyanto / AFP via Getty Images Hide caption
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Indra Abriyanto / AFP via Getty Images
A police officer watches in front of the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Makassar, Indonesia on Sunday. Two suicide bombers attacked the Roman Catholic compound, injuring at least 20 people.
Indra Abriyanto / AFP via Getty Images
Two suicide bombers attacked a Roman Catholic church compound in Makassar, Indonesia, on Sunday morning, injuring at least 20 people, according to officials. Although no deaths were reported among churchgoers, police say both attackers were killed in the explosion.
The attack occurred around 10:30 am in the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus when mass was being held in the church. The bombers attempted to break into the church compound by motorcycle and, according to news reports, detonated at least one bomb through an entrance to the compound.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo condemned the attack as “Act of terrorism“and said he had ordered the police to” thoroughly investigate the perpetrators’ networks and tear the networks down to their roots. “
The attacks occurred on Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week before Easter. in the a television addressJoko urged people to stay calm, saying, “The state guarantees the safety of religious people without fear of worship.”
The Minister of Religious Affairs, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, encouraged the police to improve security at places of worship. “Whatever the motive, this attack cannot be justified by any religion because it only harms other people.” he said.
Indonesia is the largest Muslim majority country in the world 13% of the world’s Muslim population. In recent years it has been challenged by increasing religious extremism.
No organization took responsibility for Sunday’s attack. According to Reuters, the authorities are investigating possible links between the bombers and radical networks, said national police spokesman Argo Yuwono.
In 2018 a number of coordinated suicide attacks Dozens of people were killed by targeting churches and a police post in the port city of Surabaya. Police blamed ISIS affiliate Jamaah Ansharut Daulah for the attacks.
