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2019 Medan suicide bombing
Part of terrorism in Indonesia
Police HQ2019 Medan suicide bombing (Medan)Location of the attacked police headquarters
Location	Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia
Coordinates	3°36′00″N 98°41′02″E / 3.6°N 98.684°E / 3.6; 98.684
Date	13 November 2019 8:40 AM WIB
Target	Police officers
Attack type	Suicide bombing
Deaths	1 (attacker)
Injured	6
Perpetrators	Jamaah Ansharut Daulah
Motive	Islamic extremism

A suicide bombing was conducted in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia on 13 November 2019, targeting the city's metropolitan police (Polrestabes) headquarters. No person other than the attacker was killed in the attack, though six others were injured. The single attacker was affiliated with the Jamaah Ansharut Daulah.

Bombing

The attack on the Medan Police's headquarters occurred on 13 November 2019, at around 8:40 AM, shortly after the conclusion of a routine morning roll call by the police officers. The explosion occurred within the grounds of the headquarters but outside the building itself. According to reports, the attacker had blended in with a group queueing to obtain certificates of good conduct before detonating the bomb in the parking lot. Other eyewitness accounts reported the attacker wearing a jacket and backpack, and that he had attempted to rush through police examination at the building's entrance.

The attacker was initially believed to be a lone wolf, and the explosion injured four police officers and two civilians aside from killing the attacker. In the aftermath of the explosion, police recovered the attacker's body parts, nails, and parts of the explosive device.

Perpetrator

Though his body was blown up, the perpetrator was identified from fingerprints as a 24-year old resident of the city, Rabbial Muslim Nasution, who had recently been an online motorcycle driver. Initial investigations explored Nasution's connections with the Islamic State-affiliated Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD), and several of his family members were questioned by police. His body was buried in the city, despite objections. According to his parents-in-law, Nasution had shown a significant change in behavior in the six months leading up to the suicide attack, which police officials linked to indoctrination by a cleric, who was being sought after by the national police.

Police later reported that Nasution's wife had planned another terror attack in Bali, and she was arrested. Following further investigations, the Indonesian Police (Polri) stated that the JAD was behind the attack.

Reactions

Following the attack, Polri launched several raids in parts of the country, and a week after the attack reported that 74 terror suspects had been apprehended - more than half of which were arrested outside North Sumatra. The Densus 88 shot dead two alleged bomb assemblers following an ambush in Deli Serdang Regency. Some of the suspects were known to have been attending training camps in Karo Regency, and weapons including improvised firearms, airsoft guns, traditional blades, and bows were confiscated.

President of Indonesia Joko Widodo ordered for the perpetrators of the attack to be investigated and apprehended. Deputy Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly Zulkifli Hasan commented that Polri had been caught off guard by the attack, as with the attack on security minister Wiranto.

References

1. ^ Gunawan, Apriadi (13 November 2019). "24-year-old man behind suicide bombing at Medan Police HQ, police confirm". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
2. ^ "Ledakan 'bom bunuh diri' di Polrestabes Medan, polisi 'jadi musuh nomor satu'". BBC (in Indonesian). 13 November 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
3. Yahya, Achmad Nasrudin (13 November 2019). Galih, Bayu (ed.). "Kronologi Ledakan Bom Bunuh Diri di Polrestabes Medan..." KOMPAS.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 20 November 2019.
4. "Suspected suicide bombing targets police in Indonesia's Medan". Al Jazeera. 13 November 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
5. "Indonesia police identify suspected 'lone wolf' Medan suicide bomber". ChannelNewsAsia. 14 November 2019. Archived from the original on 13 November 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
6. "6 injured in suicide bombing at police HQ in Indonesian city of Medan". Channel News Asia. 13 November 2019. Archived from the original on 14 November 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
7. ^ Gunawan, Apriadi (19 November 2019). "IS-linked group behind Medan attack plans to form own country, police say". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
8. Apriliana, Nur; Mawa, Genta Tenri (14 November 2019). Haryati, Sri (ed.). "Six-month brainwashing in run-up to suicide bombing in Medan: police". ANTARA News. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
9. Apriliana, Nur; Tenri, Genta (20 November 2019). Nasution, Rahmad (ed.). "Medan terror suspects pledge allegiance to IS". ANTARA News. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
10. Wockner, Cindy (15 November 2019). "'They are planning a terrorism act in Bali': Warning after suicide bomber's wife arrested". 7NEWS.com.au. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
11. Budilaksono, Imam (20 November 2019). Haryati, Sri (ed.). "74 terror suspects under detention after Medan bombing: Police Chief". ANTARA News. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
12. Gunawan, Apriadi; Sangadji, Ruslan (17 November 2019). "Two alleged assemblers of bomb in Medan blast shot dead in Deli Serdang". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
13. Lubis, Ahmad Arfah (18 November 2019). "Tersangka Bom Medan Berlatih di Karo, Senjata Rakitan-Sangkur Disita". detiknews (in Indonesian). Retrieved 20 November 2019.
14. "Jokowi Minta Jaringan Teror Bom Medan Ditangkap". CNN Indonesia (in Indonesian). 13 November 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
15. Astuti, Nur Azizah Rizki (14 November 2019). "Soal Bom Medan, Zulkifli Hasan: Kita Beberapa Kali Kecolongan". detiknews (in Indonesian). Retrieved 20 November 2019.

• Indonesia

• 21st century in Sumatra
• 2019 building bombings
• Attacks on police stations in the 2010s
• Islamic terrorism in Indonesia
• Islamic terrorist incidents in 2019
• Medan
• November 2019 crimes in Asia
• November 2019 events in Indonesia
• Suicide bombings in 2019
• Suicide bombings in Indonesia
• Terrorist incidents in Indonesia in 2019
• Building bombings in Indonesia
• Attacks on police stations in Indonesia