Three Churches Bombed in Surabaya
An act of terrorism, in form of suicide bomb attacks struck three churches in Surabaya, East Java, Sunday (13/5). These attacks have killed at least 13 people and left dozen more wounded. Currently, the victims are being treated in a number of hospitals.
Bomb blasts occurred at three churches, namely Church of Immaculate Saint Mary (Gereja Santa Maria Tak Bercela) at Ngagel, Indonesian Christian Church (GKI) at Jalan Diponegoro, and Pentecostal Church at Jalan Arjuna, East Java Police spokesman Chief Commissioner Frans Barung Mangera said at the crime scene at Church of Immaculate Saint Mary, Ngagel, Surabaya, on Sunday (13/5).
Barung added that the explosion at Church of Immaculate Saint Mary took place at 07.30 a.m. WIB (Western Indonesian Time), whereas the explosion at Indonesian Christian Church at Jalan Diponegoro occurred at 07.35 a.m. WIB. The third blast took place at Pentecostal Church at Jalan Arjuna at 08.00 a.m. WIB.
Until 09.30 a.m. WIB, Barung said, 9 people died in the blast and 42 people were wounded. Among those wounded victims were Indonesian Police officers who were in charge to secure these churches.
The police are now conducting the process of identification and crime scene investigation.
The Chief Commissioner also urged the public not to spread photos of the victims through social media because such act could be considered as a support for the terrorists to spread fear.
In the meantime, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung condemned the brutal and cowardly act committed by the terrorists in Surabaya via his Twitter account.
I condemn the brutal and cowardly act perpetrated by terrorists at three places in Surabaya, and I pray for the dead and the wounded victims will be immediately healed #BersatuLawanTerorisme (united against terrorism), the Cabinet Secretary tweeted.
This Surabaya bombing attacks made people react through their social media with #BersatuLawanTerorisme hashtag. They call on their fellow citizens to never sympathize with terrorism act. People are asked to consolidate to unite against terrorism. (*/ES) (GWH/MMB/Naster)
