Police pursue 3rd suspect in church attack

Annastashya Emmanuelle, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Police are pursuing another suspect in relation to the Petra church bombing on Friday and are continuing to question two men arrested immediately after the explosion, the Jakarta Police spokesman said on Saturday.

The two suspects, Wahyu Handoko and Ujang Arif, said they were members of the mujahedin group Kompak, Sr. Comr. Anton Bachrul Alam said. They claimed that the group took part in the destruction of churches in Maluku in 1999.

Aside from a bomb thrown from outside the church on Jl. Jampea in North Jakarta, police also found three other homemade bombs in the possession of one of the suspects.

"In their statement, they said they were displeased with the prayer session being held for the people of Maluku at the church that night," Anton told The Jakarta Post.

The incident took place at about 8 p.m. when some 300 people were attending "Maluku Prays", a prayer for peace in Maluku, which has been tormented by religious conflict since 1999.

No one was injured in the explosion, which shattered one window. Nails contained within the bomb damaged part of the church's roof, church official Vicky Montung said.

The church will resume normal activities on Sunday, and church officials said they were confident about security at the church.

The Sunday service will take place at its regular times of 7 a.m., 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. The church's male members have been taking turns providing security in the area around the church, Vicky said.

"We're sure nothing more is going to happen and the damage was not serious," Vicky told the Post, adding that the church would proceed with a wedding blessing on Saturday evening, as previously planned.

Following the explosion, members of the church's congregation have been calling to inquire about the church's plans and its condition, Vicky said, adding that they agreed that the church's activities should not be halted.

"Security by male members of the church was their idea ... but we don't think the patrols should last too long. For us, this matter is closed," Vicky said, adding that the church was pleased with the police's immediate arrest of the suspects.