“The [church] is not far from my office,” said Mhimi, adding that she was shocked and could not fathom why a terrorist attack would happen during a pandemic.

Mhimi, a Muslim, said she hoped the cathedral attack would be the last one in Makassar and in the world. Suicide bombings, she said, would not impact interreligious harmony between people, and life would go on as usual after each attack.

“Whatever goals these people have, hopefully they will realize that suicide bombing is useless and ineffective,” she added.

A Palm Sunday service was being conducted inside the cathedral when the bombing occurred. Around 20 people were wounded, while the two suicide bombers – a couple – died at the scene.

Sari, 31, an Indonesian of Chinese descent who hails from Makassar but now lives in Jakarta, said she was not particularly surprised about the attack. She noted that similar attacks in the past had occurred during particular religious celebrations.

“The only difference is that, this time, the attack took place at a location I personally know. I was like, ‘Oh, no! Hopefully there are no victims, and even if there are victims, hopefully they are only wounded. I hope nobody I know was there,’” said Sari, who was born and raised in Makassar until she was 28.

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