Terrorist Responsible for St Lidwina Church Attack Dies

03/07/2021 Indonesia (International Christian Concern) – The perpetrator of the attack on St. Lidwina Bedog Catholic Church in Gamping District, Sleman, has died. The body of Suliono, a terrorist from Kandangan Village, Pesanggaran Subdistrict, Banyuwangi, East Java, was buried in his hometown on March 1.

On February 11, 2018, Suliono barged into St. Lidwina Bedog church in the middle of their mass on Sunday before attacking churchgoers using a one-meter sword. Four people were injured in the attack, including priest Karl Edmund Prier, who was officiating the mass. Suliono also slashed the statues of Jesus and Mary near the pulpit of the church. He was shot and arrested by the police who later arrived at the scene.

According to the police, the cause of his death was health complications. Around 15 police and Indonesian Army (TNI) personnel were on site to secure the funeral.

Since his arrest, Suliono has not been heard of, until the terrorist died and was buried in Banyuwangi last week.