Release International

The Indonesian government has stepped up its security operations after a bomb exploded in a 'Christian' market on New Year's Eve.

The blast shattered the peace in a bustling market place in a Christian area of South Palu, Central Sulawesi, in the early morning, and left eight people dead. Fifty-six other people were injured, some seriously. A second unexploded bomb was later found in the same area.

People had been busy busying pork for their celebration meals, opposite the Bethel Church in Mahesa. The bombing of a Christian market selling meat considered 'unclean' by Muslims has led many observers to suspect Islamic terrorists of involvement in the attack.

The government responded by setting up a new kopskam or security operation command made up of military and police officials. The Jakarta Post reported that the kopskam intended to send 1,100 extra police officers and an unspecified number of soldiers to Poso and Palu.

This show of military force may not reassure the Christian community of Central Sulawesi who are reported to be increasingly nervous. Reinforcements posted to the province last year failed to prevent a serious of atrocious attacks on Christians including schoolgirls being beheaded and shot in Poso in November.

The Central Sulawesi administration has promised to pray medical expenses of all those injured in the Palu blast, some of whom have now been transferred to a more specialised hospital in South Sulawesi.

• Pray for the families of those killed and injured in the Palu market bombing.
• Pray that communities around the Mahesa area of Palu would respond with compassion for these families and unite against the terrorist threat which hangs over Central Sulawesi.

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