At least 14 people were injured on Sunday March 28 in a suicide bombing targeting Makassar Cathedral in eastern Indonesia after Palm Sunday, a celebration that marks the start of Holy Week for Christians . The exterior of the building on the south of the island of Celebes was littered with pieces of human bodies as a result of this powerful explosion which occurred at around 10:30 a.m. local time (5:30 a.m. in Paris).
Indonesian President Joko Widodo condemned “Strongly this terrorist act”. “Terrorism is a crime against humanity”, declared the head of state. “I call on everyone to fight against terrorism and radicalism, which are contrary to religious values. “
The police did not give details of the state of health of the injured. “Two people were riding motorcycles when the explosion occurred at the main gate of the church, the attackers were trying to enter the perimeter of the church.National Police spokesman Argo Yuwono said. The motorcycle was destroyed and there are body parts. We are still picking up the pieces and trying to identify the gender of the attackers. “
Earlier, police in South Sulawesi province, of which Makassar is the capital, said at least one assailant had perished. The national police did not confirm this information. “There are many scraps of human bodies near the church and also in the street”, declared Mohammad Ramdhan, the mayor of this port city of 1.5 million inhabitants. A witness, for his part, spoke of an explosion ” very strong “.
“People were going home”
Police claimed that a security guard attempted to prevent the motorcycle from entering the perimeter of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral, seat of the Archdiocese of Makassar, just before the blast, which is occurred after the end of the mass.
Palm Sunday marks the entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, according to Christian tradition, at the start of the holy week leading up to Easter. “We had finished mass, and people were going home when it happened”Priest Wilhelmus Tulak told reporters. Many vehicles were damaged near the cathedral complex, around which the police were establishing a security cordon, according to an Agence France-Presse photographer on the spot.
Pope Francis said he prayed for all victims of violence, “In particular those of the attack this morning in Indonesia in front of the cathedral of Makassar”.
Churches have in the past been the target of extremists in Indonesia, which is the most populous Muslim-majority country in the world. In May 2018, a family of six, including two girls aged 9 and 12 and two sons aged 16 and 18, set off bombs against three churches in Surabaya, the country’s second city, killing more than a dozen. faithful. This radicalized family was linked to the radical Jamaah Ansharut Daulah movement, which supports the Islamic State organization, which claimed responsibility for the attacks.
Indonesia’s tradition of tolerance has been tested in recent years by a development of conservative, even extremist, Islamic currents, and religious minorities, Christians but also Buddhists and Hindus are worried to see religious coexistence undermined.