Family of 6 bombers attack three churches in Indonesia, 13 killed

◗ The bombers were linked to local extremist network Jamaah Ansharut Daulah ( JAD), which supports the ISIS

Surabaya ( Indonesia), May 13: A family of six, including two young daughters, staged suicide bombings at three Indonesian churches during Sunday services, killing at least 13 people and wounding dozens in attacks claimed by the Islamic State group.

The bombings at three churches in Surabaya were Indonesia’s deadliest for years, as the world’s biggest Muslim- majority country grapples with homegrown militancy and rising intolerance towards religious minorities.

The bombers — a mother and father, two daughters aged nine and 12, and two sons aged 16 and 18 — were linked to local extremist network Jamaah Ansharut Daulah ( JAD) which supports IS, said national police chief Tito Karnavian.

Local media reorts say they may have returned from Syria, where hundreds of Indonesians have flocked in recent years to fight alongside IS in its bid to carve out a caliphate ruled by strict Islamic law.

The mother, identified as Puji Kuswati, and her two daughters were wearing niqab face veils and had bombs strapped to their waists as they entered the grounds of the Kristen Indonesia Diponegoro Church and blew themselves up, Karnavian said. The father, JAD cell leader Dita Priyanto, drove a bombladen car into the Surabaya Centre Pentecostal Church while his sons rode motorcycles into Santa Maria church, where they detonated explosives they were carrying, Mr Karnavian said.

“All were suicide attacks but the types of bombs are different,” he said.

Surabaya, May 13: A family of six, including two young girls, were responsible for Islamic Stateclaimed suicide attacks that killed at least 11 and injured dozens during Sunday church services in Indonesia, national police chief Tito Karnavian said.

The family -- a mother and father, two daughters aged 9 and 12, and two sons aged 16 and 18 -- were linked to local extremist network Jamaah Ansharut Daulah, which supports IS, Karnavian said.

Indonesian president Joko Widodo slammed the attacks, telling reporters: “We must unite against terrorism.” “The state will not tolerate this act of cowardice,” he added.

— AFP