The aftermath of the Surabaya bombing.
Photo: Screenshot from YouTube / Try Kutriw
A series of coordinated church bombings in the city of Surabaya has resulted in as many as 28 fatalities and the wounding of 50 victims; some critically. The attacks were carried out on the morning of May 13th by members of a single family.
Dita Futrianto, a local leader for a militant Islamic group known as Jemaah Ansharut Daulah, dropped off his wife and two daughters, ages 9 and 12, at the Diponegro Indonesian Christian Church. All three female accomplices had bombs strapped to them which exploded in the courtyard outside the church.
The instigator of the initial suicide bombing attack, Dita, then crashed his bomb-laden car into the Surabaya Centre Pentecostal Church where it exploded. At the same time, his two sons, ages 16 and 18, rode motorcycles into the Santa Maria Catholic Church and detonated the explosives they were carrying. The police later disabled three remaining bombs that were still in the family's home.
These suicide bombings are considered the deadliest in Indonesia in more than a decade. It is also the first known instance where children were used in such a horrific way. It has been reported that the family had been living in Syria and was inspired by the ISIS terrorist group.
Please remember the surviving members of these three churches -- and Christians throughout Indonesia -- who are now facing the aftermath of this devastation and the resulting pain. Ask for healing on behalf of those still in hospital, as well as emotional healing for the many others who've been impacted. Pray that the Indonesian authorities will be effective in preventing any further attacks.
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