Terrorist Cell Behind Samarinda Church Explosion: Police

Samarinda, E Kalimantan (ANTARA Kaltim) - The perpetrator of a bomb explosion in front of Oikumene Church here on Sunday morning is a member of terrorist cell, police said.

"The explosion involved a terrorist cell and the police will investigate it after arresting its perpetrator," Chief of the East Kalimantan provincial police Inspector General Safaruddin said after visiting the victims of the bomb explosion at IA Moeis Hospital here on Sunday.

Earlier, Safaruddin visited the scene of the bomb explosion.

He said a team of the police`s anti-terror squad detachment (Densus 88) was heading to the scene to help investigate the explosion.

"The situation is now conducive and under control. I ask the people to remain calm and carry out activity as usual," he said.

An explosion believed to come from a bomb happened in front of Oikumene Church on Jalan Dr Cipto Mangunkusumo, Samarinda, East Kalimantan, on Sunday morning, leaving four under-five year old children injured.

"It happened at around 11.30 a.m. Central Indonesia Time," head of public relations of the East Kalimantan regional police command, Senior Commissioner Fajar Setiawan, said to Antara.

He said the explosion came from a bag believed to contain a Molotov cocktail thrown at the church by a man who has now been arrested. (*)