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Medan church attacker inspired by France attack: Police
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Members of the National Police's Mobile Brigade stand guard in front of the St. Yosep Catholic Church in Medan, North Sumatra, following an attack on Aug. 28. (JP/Apriadi Gunawan)
A
teenage suspect who attacked St. Yosep Catholic Church in Medan, North Sumatra, took inspiration from an act of terror against a pastor at a church in France, a police official said on Monday.
The suspect was allegedly inspired by an attack on a church in Rouen, Normandy, last month where a priest was killed and a parishioner wounded by Islamic State (IS) militants, Medan Police chief Sr. Comr. Mardiaz Kusin Dwihananto said. In the attack, the priest was killed with a knife.
"After watching the terror act in France through the internet, the suspect tried to do the same thing here," Mardiaz told journalists at the Medan Police headquarters.
Police suspect the teenager of being an IS supporter following the discovery of the terrorist group’s symbols in his wallet. The teenager was named a suspect after churchgoers foiled his attempts to detonate a bomb and attack Rev. Albertus Pandiangan during Sunday Mass. The teenager allegedly attempted to kill Albertus, 60, with a knife and an axe but only managed to wound the priest’s left arm as churchgoers immediately restrained him.
Not much information had been gleaned from the teenager, Mardiaz said, adding that the suspect was still in shock and had difficulty speaking as he had suffered wounds to his face in the attack.
The police also questioned six witnesses in the ongoing investigation including the suspect's family members and church officials. (rin)
Editor’s note: In accordance with a Press Council recommendation, this article was corrected on Dec. 18, 2023, to take into account the responsibility to protect children.
