BANDUNG, Indonesia (Reuters) – Two people were killed and eight injured in Bandung on Wednesday when a suspected Islamist militant blew himself up shortly after entering a police station, apparently angered by a new criminal law in place, officials said. Indonesian authorities.
Ahmed Ramadan, head of the National Police Information Bureau, said authorities were coordinating with the Counter-Terrorism Unit to investigate the incident, which left the suspected attacker and a policeman dead.
An official from Indonesia’s counter-terrorism agency told Metro TV that Islamic State-inspired Jamaat Ansar al-Dawla may be behind the attack. He added that he had previously carried out similar attacks in Indonesia.
The West Java police chief told the same channel that authorities are investigating a blue motorcycle that was found at the site of the bombing and is believed to have been used by the attacker. Attached to the motorcycle was a letter of rejection of Indonesia’s new criminal law, passed by parliament on Tuesday.
“There was a message on the motorcycle that the criminal law is a product of atheism, let’s get rid of the police,” the police chief said.
Analysts say some religious extremists reject state laws and consider Islam the only legitimate source of power.
The police chief indicated that the attacker was carrying two bombs, but was only able to detonate one.
Footage from Metro TV showed damage to the police station, with debris from the building scattered on the ground and smoke billowing into the sky.
In recent years Islamist militants have carried out attacks in the largest Muslim-majority country in the world, including churches, police stations and places frequented by foreigners.
In 2019, Indonesia enacted a tough new anti-terrorism law after JAD-related suicide bombings.
