The alleged perpetrator is suspected to be a lone wolf with a possible link to homegrown terror group Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD)
man blew himself at Medan Police headquarters in Medan, North Sumatra, injuring at least six people, in a second suicide blast in the province this year.
North Sumatra Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Tatan Dirsan Atmaja identified the suspected suicide bomber as Medan resident Rabbial Muslim Nasution, alias Dedek.
It is thought that the 24-year-old carried out the attack alone, but the police are investigating whether he had any links to Islamic State-linked homegrown terror group Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD), which has been behind a number of terror attacks in the past.
“[Rabbial] had resigned from his job as an online-delivery motorcycle driver,” Tatan said on Wednesday. “We still don’t know about his affiliation with other [terrorist] groups.”
The suicide bombing occurred at about 8:45 a.m. on Wednesday, after morning roll call at the police headquarters. Six people, including four police officers, one nonpermanent staffer and one civilian, sustained injuries in the attack.
North Sumatra Police deputy chief Brig. Gen. Mardiaz Kusin said Rabbial had been stopped and checked by police officers on duty at the gate before he entered the compound. However, exited straightaway and returned some time after.
Mardiaz said Rabbial blended in with members of the public who were applying for police certificates of good conduct near the police’s operational office.
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