Bomb found at church in Manado

MANADO, North Sulawesi: A homemade bomb, placed inside a black plastic bag, was found next to a Protestant church in Manado, North Sulawesi, on Saturday.

Witness Robby Pratasik said the bomb was found by a churchgoer at 7 a.m. and was then reported to the local police.

The bomb squad took the bomb to the provincial police headquarters for further examination.

A youth living at the church said many churchgoers hurriedly left the church and returned home after learning about the explosive.

Another bomb was also found at the local KFC outlet on Jl Sam Ratulangi, Manado, at 8 p.m. on Friday.

Adj. Comr. W. Damanik, spokesman for the provincial police, confirmed that the two bombs were homemade and were detonated in an open field.

He called on local people to remain calm but alert to the possibility of terrorism carried out by those bent on destroying political stability in the province. --JP