The first bomb scare occurred in front of the Advent Church in Kawua subdistrict, Poso City, on Sunday morning, while the second threat took place in front of the Palu Indonesian Christian Church (GKI Palu) in Ampana, Tojo Una-Una regency, around 3 p.m. local time.

The bomb threat in Kawua occurred during a service at the Advent Church. A bomb squad (Gegana) disposal unit dispatched from the Poso Police examined a package that aroused suspicions in front of the church. It turned out not to be a bomb.

“It’s just like a bomb. Someone planted it without any serious consideration,” Central Sulawesi Police spokesperson Adj. Sr. Comr. Hari Suprapto told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

Local residents packed the location to see the examination process conducted by the Gegana unit, forcing the police to move them away from the site.

Stay alert -- Local residents gather along the street in Ampana, Tojo Una-Una regency, Central Sulawesi, on Sunday, after a bomb-like package was found in front of the Indonesian Christian Church (GKI) Palu, Ampana. (thejakartapost.com/Ruslan Sangadji)

In Ampana, local residents were similarly curious about a bomb-like package found in front of the GKI Palu. Local police cordoned off the area while they waited for the Gegana’s arrival.  

Ampana resident Erwin Husain told the Post that the situation remained calm despite the bomb threat. The terror did not disrupt local people’s activities, he said.

Another Ampana resident Nudin Lasahido said the bomb scare did not cause local residents to panic.

“It remains unknown whether or not it’s a bomb. We are still waiting for the bomb squad from Poso,” said Nudin. It takes approximately four hours to travel from Poso to Ampana. (ebf)