Surabaya bombings
The 2018 Surabaya bombings were a series of terrorist attacks that initially occurred on 13 May 2018 in three churches in Surabaya, the second largest city in Indonesia and the capital of East Java province. The explosions occurred at Immaculate Saint Mary Catholic Church (Gereja Katolik Santa Maria Tak Bercela, SMTB) on Ngagel Madya Street; Indonesia Christian Church (Gereja Kristen Indonesia, GKI) on Diponegoro Street; and Surabaya Central Pentecost Church (Gereja Pantekosta Pusat Surabaya, GPPS) on Arjuno Street. The first explosion took place at the SMTB Church; the second and third explosions followed within an hour.
| 2018 Surabaya bombings | |
|---|---|
| Part of terrorism in Indonesia and persecution of Christians in the modern era | |
Indonesian President Joko Widodo (in white) visiting one of the churches that were attacked by terrorists on 13 May | |
SMTB GKI GPPS Wonocolo Mapolrestabes Surabaya bombings (Surabaya) Location of the attacked churches, police headquarters in Surabaya, and Wonocolo apartment in Sidoarjo | |
| Location | Surabaya and Sidoarjo, Indonesia |
| Coordinates | 7°17′20″S 112°45′37″E 7°16′54″S 112°43′57″E 7°15′50″S 112°43′33″E 7°20′56″S 112°41′50″E 7°14′20″S 112°44′12″E |
| Date | 13–14 May 2018 13 May attacks: 14 May attack:
|
| Target | Christians, police officers |
Attack type | Suicide bombings |
| Deaths | 28 (15 victims, 13 attackers) |
| Injured | 57 |
| Perpetrators | Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (Southeast Asian branch of the Islamic State) |
| Assailants | Dita Supriyanto family Anton Febryanto family Tri Murtono family |
| Motive | Islamic extremism |
The fourth bombing occurred in an apartment complex in Sidoarjo, a regency located south of Surabaya, after the terrorists accidentally set off the bombs inside the room; three were killed and a teenager and two children were injured. The fifth bombing occurred the next day at the Surabaya Police Headquarters (Mapolrestabes Surabaya); two perpetrators detonated their devices while they were being checked by police at the entrance.
As of 1 June 2018, 28 people were killed, including the suicide bombers. Around 50 others were injured; several were in critical condition. The attacks occurred just days after the standoff at Mako Brimob in Depok, in which five police officers were killed. The attacks are the deadliest terror attack in Indonesia since the 2002 Bali bombings.
The bombings were regarded as one of the most sophisticated and complex terror attacks in Indonesia. It was also the first of its kind in Indonesian history in which children as young as nine years old participated.