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Teacher says church attack suspect ‘pious, diligent student’
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This picture shows an ID card and piece of paper with a hand-drawn Islamic State symbol displayed by the Medan Police on Aug. 28. The items were found in IAH's possession when he was detained. (JP/Courtesy of Medan Police?)
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teacher at the state Senior High School in Medan where suspected Islamic State movement supporter IAH studied said IAH was a pious and diligent student who did not attract much attention.
However, IAH is now in police custody for an unsuccessful bomb attack at the St. Yosep Catholic Church in Medan and an attempted murder of a Catholic priest, Albertus Pandiangan, during a Sunday Mass.
Assistant to principal in SMA 4 in Medan, Marisda Sipayung, said IAH was known as a pious student who never skipped shalat (prayers). Every time he heard the azan (call to prayer) he would ask for permission to pray.
“He was a pious Muslim. When it was time for prayer, he would pray,” Marisda said to journalists during a press conference at the school on Monday.
Marisda said IAH never displayed any strange behavior while at the high school. He was not a problematic student and he “never disturbed other students”, she said. His academic achievement was also average, she added.
“We were very surprised that after graduating from our school, he turned out like that,” she went on.
IAH finished high school this year. (evi)
