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Suspected suicide blast in Bandung police station kills two
Brig. Gen. Ahmad Ramadhan, head of the public information bureau for the National Police, said authorities were coordinating with the counter-terrorism unit to investigate the incident, which killed the suspected attacker and one police officer.
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A man looks out from a shop as an armed police officer stands guard following a blast at a district police station, that according to authorities was a suspected suicide bombing, in Bandung, West Java province, Indonesia, December 7, 2022.
(Reuters/Willy Kurniawan)
T
wo people were killed and eight wounded in Bandung on Wednesday when a suspected militant who may have been angered by the country's new criminal code blew himself up at a police station, authorities said.
Brig. Gen. Ahmad Ramadhan, head of the public information bureau for the National Police, said authorities were coordinating with the counter-terrorism unit to investigate the incident, which killed the suspected attacker and one police officer.
The Islamic State-inspired Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD) group may have been behind the attack, Ibnu Suhendra of Indonesia's counterterrorism agency (BNPT) told Metro TV. He said JAD had carried out similar attacks in Indonesia.
West Java police chief Insp. Gen. Suntana told Metro TV that authorities were investigating a blue motorbike found at the scene, which they believed was used by the attacker. Attached to the bike was a note carrying a message rejecting the new criminal code, which lawmakers ratified on Tuesday.
"There was a note on the motorbike saying the criminal code is an infidel product, let's eradicate the law enforcers," Suntana said.
The blast occurred at about 8:20 am local time (0120 GMT) during roll call at the Astana Anyar police office in Bandung, the capital of Indonesia's most populous province.
" ... a man trespassed while wielding a sharp weapon, he was trying to get through to the police doing the roll call," Bandung police chief Aswin Sipayung told Kompas TV.
The suicide bomber then detonated his device, killing himself and wounding the three officers, he said.
"Three of our officers were injured and have been taken to a hospital. We have sterilised the complex and cordoned off all entrances," Aswin said.
Some religious extremists reject the laws of the state, perceiving Islam as the only legitimate authority, analysts say.
The attacker brought two bombs to the scene, Suntana said, but only had time to detonate one.
Footage from the scene on Wednesay showed damage to the police station, with some debris from the building on the ground and smoke rising from the area.
Islamic militants have in recent years carried out attacks in the world's largest Muslim-majority nation, including at churches, police stations and venues frequented by foreigners.
In an efforts to crack down on militants, Indonesia created a tough new anti-terrorism law after suicide bombings linked to JAD.
Members of the extremist group were responsible for a series of suicide church bombings in the city of Surabaya in 2018. Those attacks were perpetrated by three families, including young children, and killed at least 30 people.
