Indonesia Bombing: Jemaah Islamiyah's Christmastime 2005 Attack? (Updated)
By Andrew Cochran
The casualties from a bomb attack outside a shop selling pork in Palu, Indonesia has risen to 7 deaths and 47 injured, according to the Jakarta Post's latest report. Quoting: "Witnesses said the bomb exploded inside the kiosk which was crowded with Christians shopping for the New Years dinner...Opposite the kiosk is the Bethel Church." That is consistent with warnings by Indonesian police and military that Jemaah Islamiyah and other terrorists might target Christians and their churches in Christmastime attacks. The Australian and U.S. embassies issued specific warnings to its citizens against traveling to Indonesia during the holidays. JI terrorists were behind the bombing of at least nine locations across Indonesia on Christmas Eve in 2000, leaving 19 people dead and scores wounded. Here is the AP wire story on the bombing. You can read a FrontPage Magazine online symposium on the jihadists' activities in Indonesia, in which Walid Phares and I participated along with Dr. Rohan Gunaratna and Badrus Sholeh. You can also read expert commentary on JI by Zachary Abuza linked in the Media box and in the Counterterrorim Library, both in the left sidebar.
AP Picture of Bomb Victim (click to enlarge):
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