Bomb Explosion At Makassar Cathedral Happened After A Dozen Suspected Terrorists From South Sulawesi Were Arrested

South Sulawesi Police shows evidence of the ambush of suspected terrorists in South Sulawesi, January 7, 2021 (Thamzil/VOI)

JAKARTA - The explosion at the Makassar Cathedral Church, South Sulawesi, is suspected to have been from a suicide bombing. The Makassar Cathedral bombing occurred after dozens of South Sulawesi terrorist suspects were arrested by Counterterrorism Special Detachment 88 (Densus 88).

The bombing at the Makassar Cathedral occurred at 10:28 a.m, central Indonesian time, Sunday, March 28. There is a body fragment near the church fence that has now been identified. The police confirmed that there were casualties and injuries. But for the exact number of victims, the police have not received detailed information.

"There are pieces of the body, is this the perpetrator or someone around," said Head of Public Relations of the South Sulawesi Regional Police, Grand Commissioner E. Zulfan.

Prior to this terror act, Counterterrorism Special Detachment 88 (Densus 88) moved to South Sulawesi in early January 2021. Two suspected terrorists were shot dead in Makassar City, South Sulawesi. Both are suspected of being a pro-ISIS JAD group.

The two suspected terrorists were shot for resisting the police when they were about to be arrested. This operation was carried out by Densus 88 Anti-terror in the Villa Mutiara Biru housing estate, Biringkanaya, Makassar.

Apart from Biringkanaya Makassar, Densus 88 was active in other areas in South Sulawesi at that time. A total of 19 people — two died — were arrested in the ambush of suspected terrorists in South Sulawesi. The evidence of the suspected terrorists was confiscated.

"A series of bombs, six rifles, sharp weapons, badik, machetes, swords, weapons, samurai, bows, and books are radically provocative in nature," South Sulawesi Police Chief, Inspector General Merdisyam said at a press conference on Thursday, January 7.

The ambush of the suspected terrorist was carried out on Wednesday, December 6, at the Villa Mutiara Cluster Biru housing estate, Biringkanaya, Makassar City. During the ambush, two suspected terrorists were shot dead for attacking the police.

The suspected terrorist attacked the police with machetes and firearms. Hence the two suspected terrorists were shot.

Dozens of suspected terrorists in Makassar were then brought to Jakarta. In total there were 26 suspected terrorists including the results of the attack by Densus 88 in Gorontalo.

"Of the 19 members who were arrested, all were involved or were members of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) in Makassar. They were very active in FPI activities in Makassar," said the Head of Public Information Bureau of the National Police's Public Relations Division, Brigadier General Rusdi Hartono at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Thursday, February 4.