Bomb blast in church parking lot injures two

Bomb blast in church parking lot injures two

SEMARANG (JP): Two women were injured here on Tuesday after a
bomb exploded in their Toyota Kijang van at the Christ Alva Omega
Church on Jl. Gajah Mada.

Susana Hilda Riyanti, 50, the wife of preacher Timotius
Subekti, suffered serious leg injuries while her 30-year-old
daughter, Ferra, received minor injuries.

Susana was rushed to the Tlogorejo Hospital.

Witnesses said that Susana was still in the vehicle when the
bomb exploded, while Ferra had just got out.

"Seconds after Ferra opened the car door a deafening explosion
was heard," Yoga, a member of the church's congregation, said.

Quoting Ferra, Yoga said that two people on a motorcycle had
been following her and threw something into the van as it was
nearing the church.

Seconds after Ferra parked the van and got out of the vehicle,
something exploded in the car.

Police officers arrived at the scene minutes later, but
refused to make any statement about the incident.

Bombs exploded at two churches in Jakarta on July 22, leaving
70 people injured.

The first bomb exploded at Santa Anna Catholic church in the
Navy residential complex in Suren Sawit, East Jakarta, at 7:05
a.m. on Sunday, while the second explosion shook the Huriah
Kristen Batak Protestant (HKBP) church in the Army residential
complex in Jatiwaringin, also in East Jakarta, five minutes
later.

The church bombings evoked condemnation from various senior
officials, including the then president Abdurrahman Wahid,
People's Consultative Assembly speaker Amien Rais and House of
Representative's speaker Akbar Tandjung. (har/sur)