By Ainur Rohmah
YOGYAKARTA, Indonesia (AA) – At least 13 people were killed and 43 injured in a string of suicide bombings that targeted Sunday Mass congregations at three churches in Indonesia’s second largest city Surabaya.
Meanwhile Monday morning, a family of five, including an eight-year-old child carried out a bomb attack on a police headquarters in Surabaya, killing four people and injuring 10, an Indonesian police official said. They drove up to the gates of the police station on two motorcycles and then detonated the explosives at the security checkpoint. The four adult perpetrators died but the young child is now recovering in hospital.
East Java Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Frans Barung Mangera told Anadolu Agency the Church attack fatalities include an 11-year-old child. The attacks wounded at least 43 people.
“Three bodies have been identified,” Mangera said.
He added the explosions took place on Sunday morning at Santa Maria Tak Bercela Catholic Church (STMB), Pantekosta Pusat Surabaya (GPPS) Church and Gereja Kristen Indonesia (GKI) Diponegoro Church.
Also, police found three unexploded bombs in GPPS and GKI churches and defused them.
The National Police has ordered beefing up of security at the churches.
Additional report by The Muslim News
[Photo: Medical staff carry a wounded man on a stretcher after a bomb blast at The Immaculate Santa Maria Church at Surabaya Surgical Hospital in Surabaya, Indonesia on May 13, 2018. Photographer: Gandhi Wasono/AA]