Indonesia: Catholic Priest is Injured in Failed Suicide Attack

Indonesia: Catholic Priest is Injured in Failed Suicide Attack

An attempted suicide attack in an Indonesian Catholic church failed after the bomb did not detonate.

CBN News reports that the attack occurred on Sunday during mass. The 18-year-old terrorist, who is thought to be affiliated with the Islamic State, ran into the church and charged at the priest, 60-year-old Albert. S. Pandiangan.

However, the bomb in the attacker’s backpack failed to set off the explosives.

The terrorist then began to chase Pandiangan around the church, wielding an axe. Pandiangan was slashed in the arm before church members could detain the terrorist and call the police.

The attacker was taken into custody without inflicting further injuries on church members. Fr. Pandiangan was taken to the hospital where he is in stable condition.

"We have seized a back backpack from the perpetrator. The perpetrator is alive and injured and there are no casualties in this incident," said National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar told Beritasatu.

Police reportedly found a drawing of an Islamic State flag among the attacker’s things. He also told authorities that he was not acting alone.

Indonesia has the world’s largest Muslim population. A terror attack in 2002 in Bali left 202 dead.
 

 

Photo courtesy: Thinkstockphotos.com

Publication date: August 29, 2016



Indonesia: Catholic Priest is Injured in Failed Suicide Attack