2005 Bali bombing
Casualties
Prior warnings
Suspects
Investigation
Response
See also
The Indonesian national news agency, ANTARA, reported that the first two explosions occurred at 6:50 p.m. local time, near a Jimbaran food court and the third at 7:00 p.m. in Kuta Town Square. Other reports claim that the blasts occurred at around 7:15 p.m. At least 3 blasts have been reported.
One of the blasts is thought to have struck a crowded main square at central Kuta. Another two bombs exploded at warungs along the Jimbaran beach, one of which was near the Four Seasons Hotel. These areas are generally popular with Western tourists (CNA). Police claimed they found three unexploded bombs in Jimbaran.
According to Indonesia's head of counter-terrorism, Major General Ansyaad Mbai, early evidence indicates that the attacks were carried out by at least three suicide bombers in a similar fashion to the 2002 bombings. The remnants of backpacks and excessively mutilated bodies are believed to be evidence of suicide bombings. There remains also a possibility that backpacks were hidden inside the target restaurants before detonation. Australian Federal Police Commissioner Mick Keelty said that the bombs used appear to have differed from previous blasts in that most deaths and injuries had been inflicted by shrapnel, rather than chemical explosion. A medical officer's x-rays showed foreign objects described as "pellets" in many victims' bodies and a victim reported ball bearings lodged in her back.
The bombings occurred the same day that Indonesia cut its fuel subsidies resulting in gas prices rising by 125% and just two days before the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and 11 days before the third anniversary of the 2002 Bali bombing. The attack came during the school holiday period in some states of Australia, when an estimated 7,500 Australians are believed to have been visiting Bali.
|
Casualities of Bali bombings on October 1,
2005
|
||
| Nationality |
Deaths |
Injured |
| Indonesian |
15 |
68 |
| Australian |
4 |
19 |
| Japanese |
1 |
4 |
| South Korean |
0 |
8 |
| American |
0 |
6 |
| Canadian |
0 |
3 |
| British |
0 |
1 |
| Unknown |
0 |
20 |
| Total * |
20 |
129 |
| *
figures above do not include ther 3 suicide bombers |
||
Most of the casualties were sent to Bali's Sanglah General Hospital, and mostly treated for injuries caused by broken glass. Others were sent to Griya Asih Hospital. As in the 2002 bombings, some of the injured, primarily foreign nationals, are being evacuated to medical facilities in Australia and Singapore. The most severely injured were evacuated to Singapore, while other casualties, among them Australians, Japanese and an Indonesian, were evacuated to treatment in Darwin, Australia aboard Royal Australian Air Force C-130 Hercules.
Following the 2002 Bali bombings, in which more Australians than any other nationals were killed and injured, and the 2004 bombing of Australia's Embassy in Jakarta, the latest attacks received extensive coverage in Australia and were denounced by some officials, such as Federal Opposition Leader Kim Beazley, as an attack on Australians.
Indonesian authorities were expecting such an event, after the Indonesian President warned of more bombings within the country, and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs had issued warnings two days before the event. However, the Australian Government has claimed that it received no specific prior warning of a terrorist attack being imminent in Bali. Minister Downer has also played down any knowledge of specific signs of the potential event, despite the DFAT warning on the last day of September. DFAT has warned Australians against non-essential travel to Indonesia since before the 2002 attacks - a warning still in effect. The Department advises travellers against congregating in areas popular with Western tourists.
In May of 2005, the US State Department issued a Travel Warning against non-essential trips to Indonesia, the travel warning was last updated November 18th, 2005.
A Philippine security official said that for months intelligence officials in Southeast Asia had received information that the al-Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiyah group was orchestrating a major strike, possibly in the Philippines or Indonesia, but were unable to uncover the plot's details in time to prevent it.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation's National News Radio network reported on October 3 that several Australian tourists had heard rumours about a planned bombing, prompting Federal Opposition Leader Kim Beazley to urge the Australian government to form closer intelligence ties with Indonesia.
Suspects
 |
 |
 |
| Azahari Husin (Source: Royal Malaysia Police) |
Noordin Mohammed Top (Source: Royal Malaysia Police) |
Video footage
captures one of the suspected bombers (circled) walking past diners
moments before one of the blasts.
|
The attacks bear the hallmarks of the active terrorist network Jemaah Islamiah (JI), an organisation linked to Al-Qaeda, which is believed to be responsible for several bombings in Indonesia, including the 2002 Bali nightclub bombing, the 2003 Marriott Hotel bombing and the 2004 Australian Embassy bombing. Islamist terrorist groups are often noted for their repeated choice of site for bombings. Al-Qaeda struck the World Trade Center on 11 September 2001; they also attacked the same location in 1993. Rohan Gunaratna, head of terrorism research at Singapore's Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies, told Agence France-Presse that "The only group that has the intention and capability to mount a coordinated and simultaneous attack against a western target in Indonesia is Jemaah Islamiyah."
Although a link to JI has not yet been confirmed, the bombings were quickly condemned as terrorist attacks by the authorities. Police Major General Ansyaad Mbai, a top Indonesian anti-terrorism official, told the Associated Press that the bombings "were clearly the work of terrorists". Major General Mbai identified Malaysian men, already wanted in connexion to previous bombings in Indonesia, as the suspected masterminds of the attacks. The chief suspect was Azahari Husin, a member of JI who was an engineering expert and former academic with a doctorate from University of Reading (late 1980s). Husin was nicknamed the "Demolition Man" and was thought to collaborate with the second suspect: Noordin Mohammed Top, a bomb maker whose wife was sentenced to three years gaol for harbouring him. Azahari was killed in a police raid in November 2005, while Noordin remains on the run.
Motivations for the bombings remain unclear. Some, such as the Australian Prime Minister, have suggested the attacks were intended to undermine Indonesia's moderate democractic government. Moreover, media organisations have suggested that the attack was planned to correspond with massive fuel price increases in Indonesia, so as to maximise economic and political damage. On the contrary, Dr Sidney Jones, of the International Crisis Group, believes that it was not an attempt to undermine democracy "per se", but rather an example of jihadist extremism: "I think they very much see the world in a black and white way, us against them, Muslims against infidels... [They see] that the infidels led by the United States as part of a Christian-Zionist conspiracy are out to persecute and attack and eliminate Muslims around the world, and therefore, [they] have to fight back." However, in common with the Prime Minister, Dr Jones believes the attack was indiscriminate and not an attack on Australians "per se". She suggested Bali was selected as the site of the attacks because there was less chance of Indonesian Muslims being killed, and there was "a chance of getting a few foreigners".
Following the attacks Abu Bakar Bashir, who is alleged to be JI's spiritual leader, released a statement from his prison cell, condemning the attack. But he added that the bombings were a sign of God's displeasure with the Indonesian government. He said: "I suggest the government bring themselves closer to God by implementing his rules and laws because these happenings are warnings from God for all of us." Bashir's statement does reveal some discontent with the current moderate Indonesian Government, lending credence to the theory that the bombings were an attempt to undermine it.
From The Jakarta Post,
October 3, 2005
Indonesian police believed that three suicide bombers carried out the
bombings. A presidential spokesman Dino Djalal said that the police
found a total of "six legs and three heads but no middle bodies, and
that's the strong sign of suicide bombers." Photos of the three heads
were published in The Jakarta Post on Monday, October 3, 2005.
Initially, there were conflicting reports on the number of bombs; but
later, the police confirmed only three bombs. An amateur video capturing the scene at the restaurant in Kuta showed one bomber with a backpack walking inside just seconds before a huge explosion.
In the following Monday, on October 3, 2005, the police issued an appeal to the public to help identify the suspected suicide bombers whose dismembered remains were found at the scene. Photos of the dead suspects were distributed widely and a hotline was set up to receive tips.
According to Banten Police Chief Senior Commissioner Badrodin Haiti, the Indonesian police are seeking for five members of a ring led by Imam Samudra, who has been sentenced to death for his role in the 2002 Bali bombings. Three of the five men had already served jail sentences for holding explosives belonging to Samudra. They were under police surveillance but had now disappeared from their homes.
On October 9, 2005, police in Bali arrested a man, identified by the initial HS, who is allegedly a former roommate of one of the suicide bomber.
Indonesia
— President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
has condemned the
blasts as a "criminal act" and has called for an urgent meeting with
Indonesian security officials. He will be visiting the tourist resort
island, but it is still unclear at this moment about when the President
will arrive at the island. He vowed that those responsible will be
caught, saying "We will hunt down the perpetrators and bring them to
justice." (ANTARA), (BBC)
Indonesia — Coordinating Minister for Political,
Legal and
Security Affairs Widodo AS., State Intelligence Agency Head Syamsir
Siregar and Police Chief General Sutanto have been instructed by the
Indonesian President to leave for Bali on the evening of 1 October
2005. (ANTARA)
Indonesia — Vice-President Jusuf Kalla told the BBC that the government is uncertain of the group responsible for these attacks.
Indonesia — Vice-President Jusuf Kalla told the BBC that the government is uncertain of the group responsible for these attacks.
China — Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing sent a
message to his
Indonesian counterpart Hassan Wirajuda expressing the Chinese
government's condolences for the victims of the bombings and conveying
the sympathy for their family members. China strongly condemned the
terrorist act and would continue to support the Indonesian government's
efforts to combat terrorism and maintain domestic stability.
India — Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said that these kind of stupid acts by terrorists won't shatter the spirit of fighting against terrorism. He said terrorism can be brought to an end only by proving to the so called "Warriors for the Sake" that the general masses are not scared. He strongly condemned the attack and expressed his deepest sympathies and condolence messages to the families of the victims. (HT)
Japan — Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi criticized the bombings as "scurvy and impermissible acts that cannot be justified regardless of the reason,"
Japan — Foreign Ministry spokesman Yoshinori Katori denounced the bomb blasts. He said that "the government of Japan reiterates its firm condemnation of atrocious terrorism that victimizes many innocent people," and added that "terrorism cannot be justified for any reason."
South Korea — Foreign Ministry stated "Such terrorists acts against humanity cannot be justified in any way," the ministry said in a statement. "South Korea will join hands with the international community in fighting with terrorism. We hope the Indonesian people can recover from the impact and sadness brought by the bombings as soon as possible,"
Malaysia - Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said "I hope the Indonesian authorities will investigate and get the perpetrators" . Expressing his condolences to the families of the dead and injured, the Prime Minister said he was deeply saddened by the violence in the tourist resort island.
Philippines — President Gloria Arroyo said "We sympathize with the victims' families and reaffirm our partnership with Indonesia against terror". She has ordered a tightening of security measures in the Philippines.
Singapore — Foreign Minister George Yeo condemned the Bali bomb attacks and expressed his deepest sympathies to the families of the victims. He said the latest attack was a reminder that although terrorist groups have been weakened, they remained a threat to our societies. (CNA)
Singapore — Two hospitals, Singapore General Hospital and Mount Elizabeth Hospital, are treating victims from the blasts. The injured were being flown in by a medical assistance company International SOS. Singapore has also sent two doctors, two nurses and two paramedics to Bali to help treat victims of the blasts.
India — Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said that these kind of stupid acts by terrorists won't shatter the spirit of fighting against terrorism. He said terrorism can be brought to an end only by proving to the so called "Warriors for the Sake" that the general masses are not scared. He strongly condemned the attack and expressed his deepest sympathies and condolence messages to the families of the victims. (HT)
Japan — Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi criticized the bombings as "scurvy and impermissible acts that cannot be justified regardless of the reason,"
Japan — Foreign Ministry spokesman Yoshinori Katori denounced the bomb blasts. He said that "the government of Japan reiterates its firm condemnation of atrocious terrorism that victimizes many innocent people," and added that "terrorism cannot be justified for any reason."
South Korea — Foreign Ministry stated "Such terrorists acts against humanity cannot be justified in any way," the ministry said in a statement. "South Korea will join hands with the international community in fighting with terrorism. We hope the Indonesian people can recover from the impact and sadness brought by the bombings as soon as possible,"
Malaysia - Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said "I hope the Indonesian authorities will investigate and get the perpetrators" . Expressing his condolences to the families of the dead and injured, the Prime Minister said he was deeply saddened by the violence in the tourist resort island.
Philippines — President Gloria Arroyo said "We sympathize with the victims' families and reaffirm our partnership with Indonesia against terror". She has ordered a tightening of security measures in the Philippines.
Singapore — Foreign Minister George Yeo condemned the Bali bomb attacks and expressed his deepest sympathies to the families of the victims. He said the latest attack was a reminder that although terrorist groups have been weakened, they remained a threat to our societies. (CNA)
Singapore — Two hospitals, Singapore General Hospital and Mount Elizabeth Hospital, are treating victims from the blasts. The injured were being flown in by a medical assistance company International SOS. Singapore has also sent two doctors, two nurses and two paramedics to Bali to help treat victims of the blasts.
United States — Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice said that
"The United States condemns the terrorist bombings today in Bali that
claimed innocent lives and injured many more. Our thoughts and prayers
are with the families of the victims, and we wish a speedy recovery to
those injured," and that "The United States stands with the people and
government of Indonesia as they work to bring to justice those
responsible for these acts of terrorism. We will continue to work
together in our common fight against terror."
Canada — Minister of Foreign
Affairs Pierre Pettigrew said that
"Canada strongly condemns this terrorist act, and we are deeply
troubled by such incidents. On behalf of all Canadians, we extend our
deepest sympathies to the victims and their families," and that "While
the details are still unfolding, this is clearly an act directed
against innocent civilians. The perpetrators must be found and brought
to justice. Canada condemns all acts of terrorism and is committed to
working with Indonesia in the fight against international terrorism."
France — President Jacques
Chirac said in a letter to the
Indonesian President that the "news of the terrible attack that ripped
through Bali has stunned and saddened me," and that "France in the
strongest possible way condemns these hateful acts."
France — Foreign Ministry
spokesman Jean-Baptiste Mattei said
French officials were "deeply moved by the series of explosions that
hit the island of Bali at the end of the day, making many victims among
the island population."
Germany
— Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer denounced "in the
strongest possible terms the despicable attacks in Bali."
Russia
— President Vladimir Putin sent his condolences to
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono over loss of life in the
barbaric terror attacks on Bali Island. He wrote: "the recent bombings
provide one more proof of the fact that international terrorism is a
global threat and that the world community must be irreconcilable and
resolute, and take all measures to uproot this threat".
United Kingdom — Prime Minister Tony
Blair condemned the attacks
saying that "we (the United Kingdom) stand by Indonesia at this very
difficult time," and that "our thoughts are with the victims and their
families".
South
Africa President Thabo Mbeki said "The government and
people of South Africa express their unequivocal condemnation of the
series of bombings in [Indonesia] today, in which a number of people
were killed and many others maimed and wounded,"
Australia — Prime Minister John
Howard said "I see it very much
as part of an ongoing attempt by terrorists to undermine democratic
Indonesia." He said that Australia would help in Indonesia's response
to the attacks.
Australia — Federal Opposition Leader Kim Beazley has condemned the bombings saying "I'm sure that I speak on behalf of all Australians, we just utterly condemn this vicious, evil act by our enemies in the South-East Asian region, Jemaah Islamiah or whoever is immediately behind this." He also offered condolences to victims saying "Our hearts are with the families, of the bereaved, and the suffering, and the sense of grief and enormous discomfort and concern that they now feel".
Australia — Federal Health Minister Tony Abbott, who was holidaying in Bali at the time of the bombings, has visited injured Australians being treated in hospital. He praised the work of doctors who have been treating victims.
Australia — Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs Kevin Rudd has called the attacks "revolting beyond description".
Australia — Australia has dispatched Australian Federal Police officers and forensic experts, including those who assisted in 2002, to aid the investigation. Qantas is also dispatching two special flights to Bali to help evacuate Australians wishing to leave the island.
New Zealand — Prime Minister Helen Clark said such "callous and cold-blooded" acts "are an affront to humanity." She said New Zealand would offer whatever help Indonesia requires.
Australia — Federal Opposition Leader Kim Beazley has condemned the bombings saying "I'm sure that I speak on behalf of all Australians, we just utterly condemn this vicious, evil act by our enemies in the South-East Asian region, Jemaah Islamiah or whoever is immediately behind this." He also offered condolences to victims saying "Our hearts are with the families, of the bereaved, and the suffering, and the sense of grief and enormous discomfort and concern that they now feel".
Australia — Federal Health Minister Tony Abbott, who was holidaying in Bali at the time of the bombings, has visited injured Australians being treated in hospital. He praised the work of doctors who have been treating victims.
Australia — Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs Kevin Rudd has called the attacks "revolting beyond description".
Australia — Australia has dispatched Australian Federal Police officers and forensic experts, including those who assisted in 2002, to aid the investigation. Qantas is also dispatching two special flights to Bali to help evacuate Australians wishing to leave the island.
New Zealand — Prime Minister Helen Clark said such "callous and cold-blooded" acts "are an affront to humanity." She said New Zealand would offer whatever help Indonesia requires.
United Nations Secretary-General
Kofi Annan has said that he "is
dismayed that Bali has yet again been the scene of terrorist outrage
almost three years after the attacks of October 2002," and that he
"sends [my] deepest sympathy to the injured and the bereaved of many
nationalities as well as to the Indonesian government."
Organization of the Islamic Conference
(OIC) — The inter-governmental
organization denounced the deadly bombings. In a statement, OIC
secretary general Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu said that Bali attacks were
"terrorist acts which totally contradict the teachings of Islam... and
harm Islamic values which call for tolerance and coexistence."
See also
Indonesia frees Abu Bakar Bashir
Abu Bakar Bashir
2002 Bali bombing
Indonesia frees Abu Bakar Bashir
7 July 2005 London bombings
Attack on London
Response to the 2005 London bombings
America will lose this war
Where does terrorism start - an academic view
Conspiracy theory
