4/26/2024 Indonesia (International Christian Concern) — The Indonesian National Police recently honored police officers who guarded the three churches that were bombed in May 2018 in Surabaya.
At 6:30 a.m. on May 13, 2018, two teenage boys on a motorcycle detonated bombs at Immaculate Santa Maria Catholic Church (SMTB) on Ngagel Street. At 7:15 a.m., a Muslim woman walking with her two young daughters detonated a bomb near the Indonesian Christian Church on Diponegoro Street. Nearly 40 minutes later, a man driving a black minivan carrying five explosives rammed the gate at Surabaya Central Pentecostal Church (GPPS) on Arjuna Street, setting fire to several cars and motorcycles parked nearby and the church building. Fifteen people died in the three bombings.
That morning, Ahmad Nurhadi, a member of the Gubeng Surabaya Police, helped guard the SMTB church. The explosions knocked Nurhadi unconscious for several minutes. As he regained consciousness, he could no longer see. He could only hear the hysterical crying and screams of people pleading for help. The blast also broke both of his legs.
“I never thought that I would be one of the targets of a terrorist bomb explosion near the SMTB church guard post in Surabaya,” the 51-year-old said after being honored on April 22.
Paramedics rushed Nurhadi to the hospital, where he remained for three months. Although he underwent six surgeries on his eyes and legs, doctors were unable to restore his eyesight, and he still uses a wheelchair.
“I convey a thousand thanks to my leadership and service colleagues for their attention to us and our family, still caring and helping with treatment,” Nurhadi said. “I am very grateful because every time I go for treatment and what I need, they are always (…) giving full assistance. I am really helped.”
According to the Indonesian National Police, those who carried out the attacks on May 13, 2018, were from the same family and members of the Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD), a local branch of the Islamic State group.
For interviews, please email press@persecution.org.
The post Police Officers Honored for Sacrifice During 2018 Church Bombings appeared first on International Christian Concern.
4/26/2024 Indonesia — The Indonesian National Police recently honored police officers who guarded the three churches that were bombed in May 2018 in Surabaya.
The post Police Officers Honored for Sacrifice During 2018 Church Bombings appeared first on International Christian Concern.
