Five Hurt In Bomb Blast At Samarinda Church

By Azeman Ariffin JAKARTA, Nov 14 (Bernama) -- Four children and a baby were seriously hurt in a bomb blast in front of a church in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, Indonesia on Sunday morning. According to news reports aired by local television, dozens of worshippers were praying at the Oikumene Church in Jalan Cipto Mangunkusomo, Sengkotek District, Samarinda when the incident occurred about 10am. A man who was apprehended by the public in connection with the bomb blast was handed over to the police to facilitate investigations. East Kalimantan Police Public Relations chief, Fajar Setyawan was quoted as saying the children were playing while waiting for their parents who were in the church. He said according to witnesses, a man was said to have left a bag in the compound of the church before running away and jumping into a nearby river. "The bomb inside the bag exploded, five children including a baby were seriously injured in the blast and four motorcycles were damaged," said Fajar, adding members of the public who saw the incident chased the suspect who tried to hide in the river bank, and overpowered him. He said the victims were taken to a nearby hospital where their condition was reported to be stable. --BERNAMA