0 Arsonists Attempt to Torch Two Churches in Makassar

Arsonists targeted two churches in Makassar over the weekend, hurling molotov cocktails at the Christian houses of worship in an attempt to set the buildings ablaze, South Sulawesi Police said on Monday. Three men reportedly threw a homemade firebombs at Tiatira Malengkeri Church at 3 a.m. Sunday. The molotov cocktail struck a wall and caused no damage. A little over an hour later, the men arrived at another church, the Toraja Mamasa Church of Jordan Congregation, and threw another volley of flaming bottles. 

The church’s door and sign were damaged in that attack, South Sulawesi Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Endi Sutendi said. Local residents quickly extinguished the flames. Investigators have yet to uncover any connection to the region’s known terrorist organizations, Sutendi said. They were searching for the alleged arsonists on Monday. “So far, the investigators are still studying the case and have yet to find any link to a terrorism network,” he said. “But the investigators will apply multiple layers of charges under the Anti-Terrorism Law [to those who are caught].” 

The attempted church burnings were the latest in a series of attacks by suspected terrorists in Makassar. An ATM machine was torched on Jan. 20 by unknown assailants on Jalan Gunung Latimojong, in Makassar. Two other terrorism suspects were gunned down during a January firefight with Densus 88 members at Makassar’s Wahidin Hospital. The men, Ahmad Khalil and Syamsudin HG, were allegedly involved in several other terrorist attacks in Poso, Central Sulawesi.

source : the jakarta globe