Indonesia: Triple bomb attack reveals serious radicalization

The bomb attack on three churches in Surabaya on 13 May 2018 were the biggest since 2005 and the most devastating on churches since 2000. These attacks reveal at least two challenges, says Thomas Muller, persecution analyst at World Watch Research: "The first challenge was highlighted by Benar News reporting on 14 May 2018: These attacks were arguably the first ones in South East Asia committed by women suicide bombers and even by children as young as eight. And they were potentially the first ever committed by a whole family. This poses problems for security and intelligence agencies, as families have ways of communication other groups do not have. The second challenge is that the radicalization and indoctrination of the family seem to have happened quickly. Radical Islamic values are clearly being promoted in schools and universities, as Asia News remarked on 14 May 2018. These are the two main issues which the Indonesian authorities will need to investigate and tackle, if Christians are to live in safety in their country."