The 2005 Palu market bombing occurred on 31 December 2005, in Palu, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. An improvised explosive device, described as a nail bomb or similar, detonated around 7:00 a.m. within a Palu butcher's market mostly frequented by Christians shopping for New Year's Eve celebrations, killing eight people and wounding a further 53. The bomb detonated within a partially enclosed Butcher, butcher's shop that sold Pork, pig and dog meat direct to the public, both of which are forbidden under Religious restrictions on the consumption of pork, Islamic custom. A second explosive device was reportedly discovered around four metres from the initial blast site, nearby a stall selling pork, and Bomb defusal, defused. The target, a market in a district dominated by the mostly Christian Minahasa ethnic group, may have been selected to maximize Christians, Christian casualties, as Central Sulawesi province had previously been the site of significant sectarian violence between Christian and Muslim factions that claimed over a thousand lives between 1998 and 2002. The conflict had largely been concentrated around the Poso region of the province and Palu had largely been spared wide scale violence and then Indonesian Security Minister Widodo Adisucipto suggested Jemaah Islamiyah may have been responsible for the attack, because it is related to the death of Azahari Husin, Dr. Azahari in an ambush at Batu, East Java on 9 November 2005 ago.

The attack

The device, described as Homemade bomb, home-made and low-explosive, detonated at 7:05 a.m. within a meat stall in front of a house used for the slaughter of pigs and opposite the Bethel church (building), Church in the Maesa subdistrict, south of Palu. Police officials stated the bomb was filled with nail (fastener), nails and ball bearings, and most of the victims suffered injuries to their limbs due to the Shrapnel shell, shrapnel from the device. Bystanders are described as having carried the wounded from the makeshift market to a road, and placing them in passing cars to be taken to local hospitals, where at least 20 shoppers were treated for serious injuries in the attack. Several of the fatalities were identified as Bambang Wiyono Saputra (50), Yakulina Tana (45), Agustina Mande (37) the owners of the stall, Yoppie (42) and his wife Meisye (39) and a member of the Intelligence Unit of the Tadulako District Army Command, Sgt. Tasman Lahansang.

Investigation

Following the attack, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono denounced the bombing and conveyed his condolences to the families of the victims. Roadblock (barrier), Roadblocks were established in the Palu region and a team from Criminal Investigation Agency (Indonesia), Criminal Investigation Agency (''Bareskrim''), was deployed directly to Palu to aid the ongoing :wikt:investigation, investigation. A single person was arrested the same day, according to a report by provincial police chief Oegroseno, although it was unclear whether he was a direct suspect, police would only say that he had been acting suspiciously and asked vendors where they lived. Convicted Terrorist financing, terrorist financier Eko Budi Wardoyo is suspected of involvement in the Palu market bombing following his involvement in the murder of Reverend Susianti Tinulele, a female pastor killed on 18 July 2004 during an attack on a South Palu church (building), church that also wounded four teenagers. Wardoyo was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment in 2010 for funding that attack and giving assistance to the criminals found responsible for the 2005 Tentena market bombings that claimed 22 lives on 28 May 2005. Another bomb was discovered among street vendors near Palu Plaza during the Idul Fitri festival in 2008 and detonated by the local Palu bomb squad without incident.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Palu market bombing Attacks in Asia in 2005 Attacks during the New Year celebrations Marketplace attacks in Asia Mass murder in 2005 Terrorist incidents in Indonesia in 2005 2005 crimes in Indonesia Improvised explosive device bombings in Indonesia Islamic terrorism in Indonesia Islamic terrorist incidents in 2005 Persecution of Christians in Indonesia December 2005 events in Asia Building bombings in Indonesia