Update (2211 EST): The Indonesian Densus 88 counter-terror squad has been dispatched to the scene. Counterterrorism Special Detachment 88 or Densus 88, is a tier-one Indonesian National Police counter-terrorism squad formed on 30 June 2003 after the 2002 Bali bombings. It is funded, equipped, and trained by the United States through the Diplomatic Security Service’s Antiterrorism Assistance Program and Australia.
At approximately 2055 EST, an explosion rocked Astana Anyar Street in front of the police station in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia. Police and emergency services quickly cordoned off the area, and there has been at least one confirmed death. Three police officers have also been confirmed wounded.
Bom bunuh diri di depan polsek Astana Anyar Bandung.
Warga Bandung apa bener ini beritanya? @SantorinisSun pic.twitter.com/w7Xxm5dhQM
— Deny S W (@denywidjaja_) December 7, 2022
According to eyewitnesses, only one body was seen in front of the police station, which some are commenting to be the bomber due to the extensive bodily damage. The suspect reportedly broke through light security barriers and threatened a group of police officers during their morning formation. Shortly after making verbal threats, the bomb on the attacker’s person exploded, causing injuries to the officers and the immediate death of the bomber.
This incident harkens back to several Indonesian suicide bombings in 2022, 2021, and 2019 in which only the bomber perished, injuring civilians and police officers. In those cases, ISIS-affiliated lone-wolf attackers and members of Hizb ut-Tahrir and Jamaah Ansharut Daulah carried out those attacks. The aforementioned groups are Islamic extremist groups with loosely connected cells in Indonesia and seek to instate a caliphate in the country. However, these groups are also seen as competitors to ISIS.
