Indonesian police were investigating a suspected terror attack by a knife-wielding assailant on a priest during the Sunday service at a church, and a bomb squad had been deployed to determine whether the attacker's backpack contained explosives.
There were no serious casualties, though the priest and his attacker suffered minor injuries, according to police in Medan city, northern Sumatra.
"A terrorism act was carried out on Sunday morning at the Saint Joseph catholic church," said Rina Sari Ginting, spokeswoman for Medan police in a statement. "Police are interrogating the perpetrator... and will search his house for any bomb-making materials."
A witness present in the church told Reuters the attacker had sat with other worshippers before running towards the priest.
“There was a small explosion like fireworks and he also took out a knife as he ran towards the priest,” said Timbas Ginting.
A bomb squad was sent to the site to check whether the assailant was carrying explosives, in case the attack was a failed suicide bomb attempt.
“What’s clear is that the pastor was threatened, and (there was) an attempt to hurt the pastor,” Fahrizal, the head of criminal investigations for police in Medan, said.
Indonesia has the world's largest Muslim population and the vast majority practise a moderate form of Islam.
But there has been a resurgence in fundamentalism during recent years, inspired in part by militant groups like al Qaeda and Daish.
Reuters
Sun Aug 28 2016
Police are seen outside Saint Joseph catholic church after a suspected terror attack by a knife-wielding assailant on a priest during the Sunday service in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia August 28, 2016. - Antara Foto / Irsan Mulyadi / via REUTERS
Kuda lumba dikesan cuba 'curi-curi' naik kereta api
Haiwan itu dilihat muncul di stesen Warwick Farm di NSW dan berlari menuju ke garisan kuning platform seperti menunggu ketibaan kereta api.
Bajir Dubai: UAE masih bergelut selepas ribut
Operasi di lapangan terbang dan hab perjalanan utama kekal terganggu selepas ribut melanda Selasa lalu.
AWANI Pagi: Jom derma darah, jalankan tanggungjawab sosial anda
Awani Pagi bersama Afiezy Azaman & Nursyazwani Saiful Sham membincangkan mengenai kepentingan menderma darah khususnya untuk membantu mereka yang alami masalah darah disebabkan keturunan atau menghidapi kanser darah. Timbalan Pengarah I, Pusat Darah Negara KKM, Dr Tun Maizura Mohd Fathullah mengajak masyarakat di luar sana tampil menyahut seruan murni ini.
Piala Asia B-23: Indonesia ajar Australia cara main bola
Walaupun Australia mendominasi perlawanan pada separuh masa kedua, kehandalan benteng pertahanan Indonesia mudah mematahkan serangan demi serangan.
Situasi terkini letusan Gunung Ruang di Sulawesi
Untuk berkongsi perkembangan terkini letusan Gunung Berapi Ruang, di talian secara Google Meet ialah Feri Ariyanto, komunikasi badan nasional pencarian dan pertolongan (Basarnas) Manado Sulawesi.
Colombia bergelut masalah air, takungan negara kering
Fenomena El Nino melanda di Colombia pada penghujung 2023, menyebabkan suhu tinggi dan kemarau.
Letusan Gunung Ruang: Gelombang tsunami boleh capai 25 meter
Heruningtyas berkata, potensi tsunami ini mengancam di kawasan sebelah barat Pulau Tagulandang.
Iran beri amaran Israel terhadap tindakan ketenteraan lanjut
Iran memberitahu Majlis Keselamatan Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (UNSC) bahawa Israel mesti dipaksa untuk menghentikan sebarang operasi ketenteraan selanjutnya terhadap kepentingan Iran.
Penumpang kecewa penerbangan dibatalkan tanpa notis awal
Beberapa penumpang di Lapangan Terbang Sulawesi, Indonesia merungut penrbangan mereka dibatalkan tanpa notis awal susulan gunung berapi Ruang meletus sejak kelmarin sehingga mengeluarkan abu bahaya ke udara sekali gus membahayakan keselamatan.
Amaran tsunami boleh mencapai 25 meter
Badan Geologi, Kementerian Tenaga dan Sumber Daya Mineral Indonesia mengingatkan potensi tinggi gelombang tsunami yang diakibatkan oleh letusan Gunung Ruang di Kabupaten Sitaro, Sulawesi Utara mencapai 25 meter.