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Suspected IS militant’s attempt to kill Medan priest foiled by churchgoers
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Saved: Members of the St. Yosep Catholic Church congregation gather on Jl. Dr. Mansyur after a small explosion and murder attempt of a priest took place inside during Sunday Mass on Aug. 28. (Antara Photo/Irsan Mulyadi)
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suspected Islamic State (IS) militant allegedly attempted to kill Rev. Albertus Pandiangan at St. Yosep Catholic Church in Medan with an axe and a knife, but his attempt was foiled by churchgoers who restrained him before inflicting further injuries on the priest.
The priest, 60, was wounded on his left arm after he was slashed with a knife when he was reading the Bible during Sunday Mass.
The police said the attempt to kill the priest was carried out after the suspect set off a homemade bomb. The alleged perpetrator, identified as Ivan Armadi Hasugian, 18, came to the church at 8 a.m. for Sunday Mass. He reportedly sat among the congregation and detonated his homemade bomb, but the explosion was small and only he was injured.
North Sumatra Police spokesperson Rina Sari Ginting said Sunday that witnesses saw the suspect assemble the bomb in the church and saw him get up from his seat. Smoke was said to have billowed from his backpack and a small explosion ensued.
“Afterward, the perpetrator ran toward the priest, wielding an axe and knife. He attacked the priest, who was wounded on left arm,” Rina told The Jakarta Post.
Rina said the churchgoers quickly restrained him. The police then took the suspect to the North Sumatra Police.
“We’re questioning him,” she said. The police have confiscated from the suspect an ID belonging to Ivan, a piece of paper with the IS symbol drawn on it, a motorcycle and the axe and knife used in the attack. (evi)
