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)