Indonesia: Militants kill seven at police headquarters in Surabaya May 14

Event

Suspected militants launched a bomb attack on a police headquarters in Surabaya around 08:50 (local time) on Monday, May 14, killing at least seven people. The assailants reportedly detonated the explosive charge while riding a motorcycle.

The attack comes one day after a coordinated series of suicide bombing attacks targeted three churches in the city on Sunday, May 13, killing 13 people. A bomb explosion also killed three others in Sidoarjo (East Java) around 21:00 on Sunday. Additional suspected militant attacks are possible in East Java and elsewhere in Indonesia in the near-term.

Context

Indonesia has been on high alert for months due to the extant terrorist threat. Islamic State (IS)-inspired groups and lone-wolf assailants have carried out a series of mostly low-level attacks over the past few years. There are fears that such entities could step up attacks following the return of hundreds of Indonesians who had gone to Syria to fight with IS, following the group's recent territorial losses in the region.

Advice

Individuals in Surabaya and elsewhere in East Java are advised to monitor developments to the situation, report any suspicious objects or behavior, and adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities.

According to various Western intelligence security assessments, the threat of terrorism poses a significant security risk to individuals in Indonesia. Terrorist groups continue to plan attacks and have the capacity and intent to carry out such attacks throughout the country. Past attacks have included suicide bombings and shootings targeting public and crowded places.