TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Wiranto said the perpetrator of a bomb attack at Santo Yosep Church, Medan, North Sumatra, who is identified by the initials of IAH, is not linked to any terrorist network. The 17-year-old boy acted on his own initiatives, according to him.
“Security personnel investigation shows that he was not a member of any terrorist network. A lone wolf,” Wiranto said at the Presidential Palace, Monday, August 29, 2016.
IAH is very obsessed with terrorist Abu Bakar al-Baghdadi, according to Wiranto. Therefore, despite acting alone, he committed the attack as a form of support for Abu Bakar al-Baghdadi. “[The words] ‘I Love Al-Baghdadi’ were written on his bag. There were also videos,” he said.
Wiranto said IAH learned to assemble a bomb on the internet. He used to learn it at his own brother’s internet cafe. “Having been fed with misleading news on the internet, he became obsessed [with Abu Bakar al-Baghdadi],” Wiranto said.
IAH attempted to launch a suicide bomb attack at Santo Yosep Church on Sunday, August 28, 2016. The bomb exploded before he reached the target. Fortunately, it was a low-explosive bomb which only injured his feet.
The bomb attack sent the assembly into a panic situation during Sunday Mass. More so because IAH, with burning feet, attempted to catch the priest who led the mass. There were no reports of any casualties.
ISTMAN M.P.