At least one of two perpetrators of yesterday’s suicide bombing at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in the South Sulawesi capital Makassar was part of an IS-linked local terror network, the National Police said, as investigation into the case continues.
National Police Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo said the alleged bomber, identified by his initial L, belonged to Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD), one of the most active IS-backed local terror groups in Indonesia, which was responsible for the bombings on churches and a police station in East Java in 2018.
“The perpetrator was part of the JAD group that had carried out the bombing in Jolo, the Philippines,” Listyo said, referring to the suicide bombings at a cathedral carried out by a married Indonesian couple in 2019, which killed 22.
A photo of L riding a motorbike with a woman moments before the blast has circulated, with the latter identified as YSF, who married L just seven months ago. It’s not immediately clear how involved YSF was in planning and carrying out the attack, and whether or not she was an active member of JAD as well.
The two perpetrators were the only people killed in yesterday morning’s blast, which also wounded 19 people, including staff members and congregants who were attending mass at the time.
The wounded victims were initially treated at separate hospitals across Makassar, but were all transferred to the Bhayangkara National Police Hospital in the city for their safety. Listyo said two of the victims have successfully come out of surgery.
In 2018, two of the three suicide bombings in Surabaya, East Java were carried out by families — consisting of small children — who were affiliated with JAD. The attacks left 28 people dead and wounded 50 others.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include information on YSF.
