Terror in God's house: A police officer with a police dog checks the Hati Kudus Yesus parish church in Surabaya, East Java, on Sunday. The check was made following the bombing in a church in Surakarta, Central Java. (Antara/Eric Ireng)Twenty-two people were injured when a suicide bomber detonated his explosives inside of Sepenuh Injil Bethel Church (GBIS) in Surakarta, Central Java, on Sunday directly after a service had ended.

One person — thought to be the suicide bomber — was confirmed dead as of 7 p.m. Sunday.

Sunday’s bombing was the fourth in the country this year after a small blast in Lubuk Linggau, South Sumatra, in June; a suicide bomb attack on the Adz-Dzikro mosque in a Cirebon police compound in West Java in April and a mail bomb explosion that had been addressed to the founder of the Liberal Islam Network in East Jakarta in March.

National Police Chief Gen. Timor Pradopo said 11 people were seriously injured and three had suffered light injuries. The injured were still being treated at Dr. Oen Hospital in Surakarta. Eight other victims were released from the hospital after receiving treatment for minor injuries.

“The dead victim is suspected to be the suicide bomber,” said Timur Pradopo after visiting the site of the explosion on Sunday afternoon.

He said that the police did not yet know whether the bombing was connected to a bomb found previously in Surakarta. He said a forensics team was working to ascertain the type of explosives used.

“We are still waiting for the identification and laboratory examination process to finish,” he said.

Timur said that although the bomb had done little damage in financial terms, the incident could damage the public’s sense of security and comfort.

To help restore the public’s sense of security, he said, the police would conduct an integrated investigation involving personnel from national and local police forces.

“Hopefully we can reveal the perpetrator as soon as possible,” he said.

Separately, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said that there was a connection between Sunday’s suicide attack and the suicide bomber who attacked the police compound in Cirebon earlier this year.

“We have found in the preliminary results of our investigation that the suicide bomber [in Surakarta] was a member of the Cirebon terrorist network, which carried out a similar terrorist act in Cirebon some time ago,” the President said after a Cabinet meeting discussing the issue at the Presidential Office in Jakarta.

National Police spokesperson Boy Rafli Amar said that provisional observations showed that the bomb had contained metal fragments.

“Among other fragments was a 4-centimeter-long nail,” he said.

Boy also said the bomber had exploded himself near to the church’s main door.

Witnesses said that the bomb exploded at about 11 a.m., right after a church service led by Priest Jonathan Yap. The bomber, who wore black trousers and a white shirt, was killed instantly when the bomb exploded. The bomb left a gaping whole in his mid section.

Agustina, 14, who said she was standing 150 meters from the explosion, said that when she had exited the church moments before she had seen nothing suspicious.

“It happened so fast and so loud. It deafened me,” said Agustina, who said her ears were still ringing, but other than that she had suffered no physical injury.

As of Sunday afternoon the identity of the dead victim had not been identified. Of the 22 injured victims, 12 were still being treated at Dr. Oen Hospital Surakarta.

Separately in Bandung, West Java, coordinator of the Association of Indonesian Churches’ theological commission, Priest Albertus Patty, said that the bombing was an indication of the country’s weak security and intelligence forces.

Blontank Poer and Arya Dipa contributed to this story from Surakarta and BandungTerror and bombing attacks 2009-2011</strong>

Terror and bombing attacks 2009-2011

Date: July 17, 2009 

Location: JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels, Jakarta

Fatalities: Nine people were killed and more than 50 were injured

Date: December 7, 2010

Location: A small bomb was placed in front of Pasar Kliwon police precinct in Surakarta while two small bombs were found near Katolik Kristus Raja Church in Gawok, Sukoharjo, Surakarta 

Fatalities: Bomb near the police precinct failed to explode while two bombs near the church exploded but no fatalities was reported

Date: Mar 15, 2011

Location: A bomb placed inside a book was sent to Utan Kayu office complex and National Narcotics Agency (BNN) building, both in East Jakarta

Fatalities: A package bomb was addressed to Ulil Abshar Abdala, the founder of the Liberal Islam Network (JIL) exploded while being defused, injuring three police officers.

Date: April 15, 2011

Location: Adz-Dzikro mosque in a Cirebon police compound, West Java

Fatalities: Suicide bomber killed, and 30 injured, including 24 police officers

Date: Jun 18, 2011

Location: Lubuk Linggau, South Sumatra

Fatalities: Minimarket owner injured.  The bomb was one of two bombs sent as packages in the mail. The other bomb was defused by police.

Date: September 25, 2011

Location: Sepenuh Injil Bethel Church (GBIS) in Kepunton, Surakarta, Central Java

Fatalities: One killed and at least eight injured.

Source: The Jakarta Post

Graphic: JP/Kus

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