NU deplores terrorist attacks in Samarinda

Lamongan, NU Online
Deputy Chairman of the Lamongan chapter of Nahdlatul Ulama (KH) KH Ahmad Suyuthi on Sunday said that the Indonesia's largest Muslim organization deplored the terrorist attacks in Samarinda, East Kalimantan.

"As a sosial religious organization NU is shocked by the Sunday's insident because it could sow fear and division within socities. NU in this case has called on its followers (Nahdliyin) in particular and Indonesian people in general not to easy be provoved by any threat posed those willing to undermine the integrity of the nation," he told NU Online here on Monday (14/11).

He said that NU would keep upholding human values and will help the government in overcoming the challenge of any violent extremist.

As reported by The Jakarta Post, On Sunday morning, several Molotov cocktails were thrown into the parking lot of the Oikumene Christian Church in Sengkotek subdistrict, Samarinda. Four children reportedly suffered burn injuries in the attack, which also caused scorch damage to four motorcycles parked in front of the church.

Immediately after the incident, local residents apprehended a 32-year-old man, identified only by the initial J, whom they believed to have attacked the church. He was seen running away from the scene toward the nearby Mahakam River immediately after the attack.

National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian has confirmed that J is a convicted terrorist. In 2012, he was sentenced to 42 months in prison for his involvement in a plot to blow up the Center for Science and Technology Research (Puspiptek) complex in Serpong, Banten, the site of a nuclear reactor, and Christ Cathedral Church in Gading Serpong, also in Banten. He was paroled in July 2014.

Tito also said that the police would thoroughly investigate the Samarinda incident. (Masdar)