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Reverend still in shock after Medan church attack
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North Sumatra Mobile Brigade personnel guard St. Yosep Catholic Church in Medan, where an attack took place on Aug. 28. (Antara Photo/Irsan Mulyadi)
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ev. Albertus Pandiangan is said to be in shock after surviving an attack from a suspected Islamic State (IS) movement supporter at St. Yosep Catholic Church in Medan, North Sumatra, on Sunday.
The 60-year-old reverend was wounded on his left arm after suspect Ivan Armadi Hasugian tried to attack him with a knife and an axe. Albertus said it had never occurred to him that someone might try to kill him during Sunday Mass at the church.
"I don't know the perpetrator. I don't have any issues with him," Rev. Albertus told The Jakarta Post on Monday.
A witness, St. Yosep Church Council chairman Benar Ginting, said he was sitting in front of Albertus when Ivan entered the church. The attack took place as Albertus was reciting from the bible.
"At first we heard a small explosion with smoke from the middle bench on the left side of the church. Then, not long afterwards a man ran to the front of the altar with a knife and an axe. Rev. Albertus was dodging him and we took the perpetrator down," he said.
The police suspect Ivan is a supporter of IS. During a raid at his parent's house, the North Sumatra Police's bomb squad found a homemade detonator, transformer, pipes, cement, aluminum foil, batteries, wires and urea fertilizer.
The suspect had tried to assemble pipe bombs in his room on Aug. 26, the police said after speaking with Ivan’s family members. (rin)
